Seasonal Musings: Hearts by Ann Cragg

Hearts
by Ann Cragg

She'd been walking for an hour,
This day in early spring,
Revelling in the wonders
That only spring can bring.

Underfoot, new grass was green --
Above, a bowl of blue
Where sailboats of a fleecy white
Swam through the azure hue.

Birds wheeled through the warm sunshine,
Singing their songs of love;
They would return at eventide
To nest in trees above.

In the woodland just ahead
Wildflowers bloomed in the shade,
Lending all their fragrant beauty
To the pathway she had made.

In the wood a sparkling stream
Made music as it ran
Over shallow stepping-stones --
A boon to thirsty man.

Here the trees of many kinds
Wore greens of every shade.
She felt at peace, for heavy boughs
A sanctuary made.

She'd always stopped to rest here
Before returning home,
But this day she crossed the wood
And left its sheltering dome.

Out in the sunshine once more --
A sight designed to please!
Great stones led to a tree-lined creek
Tumbling past a grove of birch trees.

One stately birch was much-carved
With hearts enclosing names.
What were these hearts? she puzzled.
Had they been parts of games?

Seated on a stone, she stared
Long at the tree above.
"No! Not games!" she said. "Those names
Are of the ones they love!"

Taking from her jeans a knife,
She rose and carved a heart.
"Who? Whose name?" she cried. "Whose name?
And should I carve a dart?"

She looked at the sky, the birds,
The grass, the new-leafed trees,
The flowers, the flowing waters --
All Nature on her knees.

Reaching for her knife again,
She gave her head a nod.
Then, carefully, inside her heart,
She carved the name of God.