The Key

She gazed through the curtain of rain and sighed deeply. For most of her life she had been drawn to the turtles. Strong, powerful legs, deep liquid eyes, independent and sovereign turtles, who carried their homes upon their backs and were incredibly old.

As a youngster, when others dreamed of horses to carry them across the plains with flying manes and swift feet, she had dreamed of elephants. Enormous elephants with mechanical legs and hollow tummies that she could fill with her family’s belongings and control with levers from high above the ground where it was safe. She would not fly single across the wild terrain of this land. She would carry her family with her wherever she went, but that had gone by the wayside along with ponytails and learning to drive.

Once endowed with wheels, she no longer needed the elephant’s big hollow body and her mind had turned to turtles. Great grandfather turtles whose benevolent wisdom smiled at the vivacious beauty and joy of a young female just setting out in the world. Infinitely steady and wise, they allowed her to leave her family upon the back of their elephant and set off on her own.

Smelling the wood smoke behind her, the sweet sage whose curling energy rose around her, the gentle spring rain that fell before her, she held out her hands. Hands that had held countless others. Hands that had been both gentle and cruel. Hands that spoke volumes of the one they belonged to. Strong hands. Good hands. Capable hands.

Now her attention turned to this tiny creature whose eyes were more beautiful than the clear waters of the Mediterranean. Whose bones were delicate and fine, and whose feathers were more golden than the sunshine whose warmth followed it everywhere. He fluttered over her fingers then sped away to build his nest and prepare a place for his family and she sighed once more.

It was his strength that drew her. Deceptively courageous and strong, he epitomized all that was innocent and good in the world.

Interesting how the path expanded when the senses fluttered upward. Who could have believed the key to her soul would come in the form of this tiny golden bird?