My Darlings Come Close and Let me Tell you Something Beautiful and True.

My darlings, come close and let me tell you something beautiful and true. The earth is full of magic, did you know?

If I can not give you the entire world and the moon too, let me offer a gift that will stuff your great big souls and tiny bodies with wonder.

Look here how the wind moves through the trees standing tall on jagged cliffs that stretch over sparkling waters.

Do you hear the crashing force of power as the water dances over the shoreline of painted rocks?

Smooth and rough, shiny crystals tucked deep into hidden layers of weather and time,

sea glass buried under matte gray stones.

Now look higher, do you see where blue meets blue, water and sky, always?

Take note, let it swirl deep into the places that will never leave you.

For there will be days when you feel the walls closing in and all the beauty seems to vanish.

Carry it with you, here, in the places safe from harm.

My darlings, there is more. More magic than we can see or feel or taste.

Here, the forest surrounds us, stretched high above, angels of green and brown on guard.

Rising hills and dipping valleys, roots so tangled, mazes never to be solved.

Mysteries so beautifully beyond us.

Look at those lines etched into the cliff, penned by wind and rain.

See the pieces that fell away, constructing altars in bubbling streams.

Follow the current, watch your step, and behold

where the water rushes down, down, down; spraying the earth and faces and knees,

Beavers gather sticks and build a home.

We lose track of time and make our own, splashing rocks and drawing in the sand.

A gentle rain falls on the canopy of trees protecting our secret world. far off the traveled trail.

We notice nothing else, only a magic that is ours.

It’s in your faces and your dirty fingers, it’s sparkling in your eyes and renewing my soul,

Steadying my heart and washing away the dust that gathers.

It’s in each step as you climb those majestic roots and slide down muddy slopes,

and wash your toes in copper colored water.

We balance across fallen logs and follow the leader with walking sticks in hand.

And it’s all just so pure, almost other-worldly

as if we’ve crossed over into a new land, an Eden untouched by man.

The magic etching memories onto the pages of our story,

In permanent, indestructible ink.

Oh, my little ones, how you grow,

how you grow and behold the great big world

I cannot keep you from hurt or harm, but I will spend my days trying.

I can point out every ray of light bursting through the cracks of our frail and broken humanity.

I can whisper that the light is always stronger, always true.

Come to this little bay, where we played when you were small and threw rocks for hours

into the rock-lined shore. Where we dipped her toes before she walked, but now she runs without fear into the chilled lake.

Among driftwood playgrounds turned into drum sets, we’re wild things in an uncharted land.

Brave explorers and daring hearts.

Roar boldly, Roar loudly.

Summon the generous beauty into our empty bones that will shine forever and beyond eternity lighting the way.

I climb the highest point of our fortress and survey the kingdom.

My favorite band of travelers,

Climbing, throwing, beating sticks on sticks,

So deeply alive and at peace.

I watch you play, here you are free.

And your freedom gives me wings,

To rest just where we are,

When the magic blinds us and when we are blind.

*A love letter to our family vacation on Lake Superior's North Shore, July 2016,  written by Olivia Moore