by Anne Woodruff
THIS FOREST SANCTUARY
When shadows eclipse my soul,
telling me stories
of what could have been,
when my ache for the mother
and father I needed
throbs beneath my skin,
I step out onto
the great wild earth
and walk among the trees.
The Sycamore, giving me
pieces of himself
every time I meet him,
telling me old tales,
becomes my father.
The Willow, inviting me
into her shelter,
mirroring my grief
in her tears,
becomes my mother.
As sunlight
finds its way
through labyrinths of branches
and glistens
on every autumn leaf,
I know that shadows
are not the end
of my story.
Here, in this forest sanctuary,
surrounded by whispers
of all that can be,
I know what it means to be
Beloved.
ANNE WOODRUFF
Anne Woodruff is an art teacher, composer, and storyteller. She is a firm believer that human emotions, including the most painful ones, are windows into the heart of God. She is currently working on a novel exploring this concept.
Anne lives in the Midwest with her husband and young son.