Today something broke open
I could feel it bubbling to the surface like a scuba diver’s air bubbles
Buoyant, purposeful, unrelenting, and clear
“You are so strong, silent, and calm on the outside”
“She’s like a rock”
Those have been left behind on a beach for someone else to discover and save in a jar
I always thought change would be a foreign invader conquering the weak
But it’s an old flame
A steady and consistent light that glimmers in the fog
It came from such a simple element many eons ago
Strength and resilience passed down over generations through DNA
Survivors, seekers, entrepreneurs, artists, ship captains, warriors
Once a small voice; it was just a faint whisper in my ear
Sometimes I thought I had only imagined it
The sound became clearer and carried further by wind and time
As it increased in volume I could start to feel it reverberate in my chest
Until it was so loud that now it’s a ROAR
I wore so many hats: 1st mate, passenger, engineer, radio controller, helm, and captain
“All me” says my ego
In truth, lot of hands helped me pass the buckets when bailing out
I finally realized that you can’t stop water but you can float
Allowing isn’t giving up as much as quiet persistence without clenched fists
I allowed nature to transmute the landscape it touched; instead of seeing it as a force to be tamed or managed
It became my creative partner
Something once so heavy is now smooth and light
It’s a sea and I can’t call it back
Nor do I want to