Last night, at 1:11AM, I sat out by the rose garden beneath the moonshine.
The wildflowers were unspooling their scent into the wind.
My mountains were rising up and capped with mobile stacks of cumulus clouds — moving like wayward ships between Arctic ice flows.
I was perched in such a tame place, but I had a sense of wildness in the surround.
I felt Kept.
I felt quiet (truly quiet, steady, calm).

I thought about mercy:
I talk a lot about love.
I believe mercy is at the core of love…or love flows from the apex of mercy…like all the mountain water flows to the sea. 
________________________ 

The night was dark.
The moon was bright.
I felt outside of my self, looking in, gliding along parallels, 
adjacent to the glow of my own soul.
Aware.
Thrumming in full dimension.
Operating gracefully with an ancient instinct.

The only answer I could find was:
Mercy.
Mercy.
Mercy.
________________________________________________

I remain.
There is no hollow version of my self here.
I remain.
Tenderly yours.  Wholly.
Fullhearted.
I remain.
As fragile as I was the day before and solid in that fragility.  Remade.  Untethered.  Cherished.
I remain.
Sustained.  Now and always.

I remain.
______________________________


You know,
life is so beautiful.
Always.
Even in the moments when we give in to the darker portions of human nature, life is still gorgeous, because there’s always the shining chance that mercy will appear [wrapped in the light of grace]. There is the resplendent hope for redemption — the holy and blazing desire for atonement.
The wrongs made right
and the melodic overture of harmony.


There is the trying.
There is always the trying.
Just try your hardest.

Comments

  1. Andes Cruz says

    I love going for walks in the desert in the moonlight….

  2. The Noisy Plume says

    I love that too. Very much. It's otherworldly.

  3. I gazed at the same moon last night, supported by a full cast of whip-poor-will song and the twinkling of fire flies. What keeps you awake so, in the late hours? Be well, lady, you are loved.

  4. The Noisy Plume says

    I'm glad to know I had your company.

    I was up late working in the studio, which made for a late dinner, which made for a late telly call to RW, which made for an even later telly call to a best friend which made for being up…just generally…very late.

    At 1AM, I looked out the kitchen window to see the moon so full and bright and hopeful and I grabbed my camera and went out to sit in the freshness of a summer night in the mountains. Quite often, in the summer, I sleep on the grass by the rose garden. It's refreshing and calming and I like being alone in the dark.

    All is well here.
    Thanks for your love.

  5. you never fail to capture a fundamental kinship with nature.

  6. passerine says

    Last night, when I couldn't sleep, I sat in a patch of moonlight and let it seep into me. It's so deeply peaceful and cleansing. I adore the full moon.

    Also, your words are so very beautiful.

  7. Yes, you are right; life is so beautiful. Always.
    It takes a bit of time to realize it, but it's always out there.
    It's music in your writing; thank you.
    Lilli

  8. Sierra Keylin Jewelry says

    Oh, the trying…Man do I need a reminder to keep on keepin' on, and to try, try again! I will hold this advice very close to my heart and be thankful for your gentle reminder…Aloha

  9. Those remind me of some photos we took that one time… margaritas and gingerbread cookies MMM!

    Hopefully it's a clear night when I arrive 🙂

  10. calamityjane(t) says

    so. lovely.
    i was up late as well, home after 27 days of travel. i had to stop by the barn on the way home, though, and breathe in the warm scent of horses and alfalfa. it brought its own sense of calm and peace. we are grounded by the most primal things.

  11. pencilfox says

    i love the pull of your words and photos….

  12. you write beautifully! 🙂

  13. Dennice {Fringe} says

    You and I were looking at the moon at the same time in the wee hours of the morning, dear heart.

    I love being awake in the depth of night. There's something magical. One's thoughts are altered, more creative, I think.

    Beautiful photos of The Plume Herself…in the moonlight.
    xoxo

  14. The Noisy Plume says

    Thank you ALL for these comments, for being under the moon with me, for everything. x

  15. mme. bookling says

    Joel and I have been speaking a lot of humanity and hope. I think you touched on it here, the notion that to be human is to be in a constant state of angst and wanting more, it is that very desire to press ahead that has evolved the species. I believe hope in that precious future is key for all beings to 1)be guided to as children 2)be the goal of self-love 3)live.

    You and that camera = magic. That was the peeeerfect setting.

  16. The Noisy Plume says

    Hey Babe,
    Thanks for getting it.
    xx

  17. Beautiful writing and dramatic pics.

  18. The Noisy Plume says

    Joy: Thank you. x