Eyes from the Past...........

There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways

 in which you yourself have altered.
— Nelson Mandela

In an unexpected place,

at an unanticipated time,

I saw a reflection of a person I once knew,

a small frame,

long blond hair,

plump little lips,

I stared at her,

wondered what she was thinking on the night

long ago,

Her face seemed frozen in time,

frightened and afraid,

her young eyes,

pooled with sadness and looked like the eyes of an old troubled soul.

I wondered....

how she actually survived,

all

that I knew she'd survived,

wondered how such a small petite frame

carried such a weight around,

I looked deep in her eyes

saw into the crevices of her injured soul.

I stood

amazed

at the places she'd been

the things she'd seen

the

pain

she

buried deep inside,

the piercing hurt that spread out,

but

yet somewhere in the darkness of pain,

I saw within her

a small sliver,

a thread of gentle strength

embedded in a secret place

way down deep where nobody else could see or go.

it rooted in,

grew,

spread out leaves,

sprouted up

and

years later,

opened her up

to the world

and

for the first time

in a very long time

she breathed in a breath of air

and

relaxed

for she had

finally found

peace

and

joy

and

contentment

and

deep adoring love.

it was nice seeing her today..

even in the midst of that pain fromlong ago...

her survival strength inspires me...

encourages me

......

Eyes from the past...

revealed to me

an ancient past

telling a tale,

teaching a lesson

about

the an injured heart

who so

dared survive

and

find a path to joy,

 once again.

May you too,

find a bit of joy

on this Tuesday evening...

hugs and blessings....