WHOLE by Ana Lisa de Jong

Whole

Could it be we each are branches of the one tree?

That love is the sap connecting us.

That leaf by leaf we are woven as thread into the other,

that there is no standalone limb

that is not fused somehow into the trunk,

and has its anchoring piece.

And that the wholeness we seek

is both the fullness of the body of the tree,

and the completeness of our own individuality

shining as a mirror,

looking similar but with our points of difference,

that together we might make an entirety -

our own longings just the shape of ourselves reflected in the other.

And to come home to ourselves is

something like

smiling in the dark across the embers of a fire into another's eyes, skin, face.

glowing with the same heat as

the dance of flame,

and knowing that this countenance that shines

is also our own back reflected.

Akin in the way that

we are all fronds of the same genus of tree,

the same plant that lifts its arms,

and drops its foliage,

each leaf and limb through which

the sap runs in spring,

and burns in autumn

in its golden pile of leaves.

We are each it,

each completely intact,

and each in need,

with a heart seeking connection,

that love is the sap, the thread between,

to reveal how completely we belong,

are not simply floating

in space, a body of planets

in their celestial orbit -

but are fused in the vine,

joined at the limbs,

the heart, the spirit.

So that somehow in the mind, speaking,

another understands,

And we can know then as

we are known,

and though fully our own

can be one and the same,

each of us of the same genus of tree,

and its body of leaves.

Originally published in Living Tree Poetry

 Ana Lisa de Jong a poet and inspirational writer, mother and wife, and Chaplains Administrator for the New Zealand Defense Force. (Not always in that order) Ana Lisa rediscovered the joy of writing in her 40's, her first published piece appearing in 'Refresh Journal of Contemplative Spirituality'. Ana Lisa has published five inspirational poetry books in the span of five six years, with Lang Book Publishing. With a family and day job, Ana Lisa doesn't submit her work widely, preferring to spend her free time writing, but is an occasional contributor to Godspace and continues to have her work published in 'Refresh Journal of Conteplatice Spirituality'. Ana Lisa lives and writes in the beautiful North West Region of Auckland, New Zealand. To order copies of her poetry books click here. Ana Lisa also gives away complementary PDF copies of her poetry collections on various themes. If interested, please contact her via Facebook here or her website.

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