As Through the Snow I Strolled by Jade Dane Jaspers
Monday, August 15, 2022
Rated "G" by the Author.
Photo generated by Meta Al 2024
Once before, not long ago,
as I strolled through a winter snow
to glimpse a sight of winter's chill
cast upon the trees and hills,
I came upon a vivid sight
where once I looked found a delight,
an ancient lamp, made of gold
hid slightly in the fallen snow,
betwixt a rock where it was lodged
and fallen leaves mingled with moss,
frozen to the rock which hid
the lamp I saw indeed I did.
And as I did I wandered closer
in search of what I was beholding
and found it there glittering bright
I tell you now, oh what a sight.
A hand width broad, a full foot long
with red and golden handled prongs
to top of lamp where it was capped
with a plug within its mouth.
My mind did start to race with thought,
“oh what is this I’ve happened to caught,”
I brushed the snow from off the vase
of lamp revealing a foreign face,
that was embossed with gold around
bright wide eyes so large and round
and nose and mouth and turban head
and words engraved that thusly read:
Life is lived in dreamers mind
where dreamer lives their entire life
to see the wondrous to appear
where normal was year after year.
To my beholder, simply speak
if a wonder you would seek.
“A wonder yes,” my mind did say
then aloud my words replayed,
“oh yes a wonder surely I would,
love to see if only I could.”
Then, if you can imagine this,
the lamp I held let forth a hiss
and vapors from the top did seep
from under where the plug did peep.
I dropped the lamp as I stood back
and watched from where the vapors lapped,
into the air in sudden fog
where did appear a figured god.
My body stilled as still as stone
realizing that I wasn't alone
my eyes stretched wide, my blood felt warm
as I beheld this figure's form.
“Who are you,” a voice did ask
from deep within the vapor mass.
I could not speak. I could not say.
I was amazed. I was afraid.
I only heard my voice reply,
“I am myself,” before my eyes
watched the figure reshape into
a person whom I would liken to,
a Persian woman so richly wrapped
in colorful silks that flowed around,
within the air without sure form
who reassured me, “I mean no harm.
I only woke to your touch,
upon my lamp where I spend much
of my existence among the spheres
of human imagination’s cares.
Be not afraid dear wanderer,
I'm only here as just you were
but since we're here both you and me
tell me a wonder you wish to see.”
“A wonder,” I asked in my amazement
still unsure of what I was seeing.
“Yes, a wonder, if you will,
what occurrence could I instill,
into your life to ever remind
our meeting here, yours and mine
and what would you most wish to see
if ever a wish was granted thee.”
I took my time to enjoy
the vision that the lamp deployed.
I studied her hair, I studied her face,
I studied her robes, I studied her graces.
As patiently she waited there,
among a mist that showed her clear,
with eyes that seemed to glow with light,
gleaming with colors both dim and bright,
of violets, green, orange and yellow,
I was entranced within her oriole,
of visual wonder which ebbed and flowed,
and seemed to sparkle with frost of gold,
with tinkling winds about her hair,
that flowed in ribbons amidst the air.
“Think carefully, no time to rush,
I'm sure there's plenty of time for us,
to share a wonder together, you me,
when you decide what you would see.
I'll leave you now but never fear,
I'll be inside my lamp just here,”
she pointed to where lamp did lay
then dissipated for the day,
into the vase shaped lamp I found
beside the rock on snowy ground.
I thought about what I'd just seen,
wondering if in sleep I'd dreamed
what had transpired before my eyes
then pinched myself where to no surprise,
I found that I was well awake,
the lamp still lain within the place,
where I watched it carefully
to see what had befallen me.
The lamp was still, the figure gone,
the winter wind blew further on
around the forest where I stood
as I decided that I would
leave the lamp there where it was
safely hidden there because
the awesome visage of the form
gave my senses such a storm.
A test of sanity if you will,
was what just happened truly real
or was the cold of winter’s touch
too cold for my mind’s total trust.
I hurried away from where I stood
back to my house out of the woods,
removed my gloves, removed my coat,
removed my scarf from around my throat.
Placed my hat upon the shelf
then wrapped myself inside a quilt,
set my thoughts free to return
to the vision from where I had run.
Once warm and calm my mind decided,
indeed I’d seen what had delighted
every facet of my being and
left reality completely reeling,
in a quandary of confusion
where in fact the magnificent illusion
had replaced a normal day
with divinity, I would say.
In quantum possibilities
of all the wonders I could see
and what if any miracle
could be obtained into my world
by the figure in the vase
whose image I could not erase
nor could forget the celestial sounds
that sprinkled in the air around.
For days and days and passing weeks
I studied on what I would seek
to see unfurl from a wish
carefully pondering every stitch
of happiness and will to hold
a splendid thing entire, whole
into my world where it could live
and from it all the happiness give
that I would want for me and mine
within our lives to make sublime
forever after thru and thru
of the miraculous tried and true .
I wondered long and thoughtfully
often going out to see
if the lamp within the snow
was in its place well kept and whole
undisturbed by any one
who might decide to filch it from
where I had left it to decide
what miracle I’d see abide.
Then one day as on my way
to that place where lamp did stay
a glinting thought occurred to me
what I would wish and want to see.
My steps did quicken with the thought
of what would be from what was not
and where and when and which of all
my many a thought had won the draw.
I found the lamp there once again
and held it once more in my hands
then said a loud what once before
had unleashed what I had saw
and just like that the lamp of vapors
hissed and spewed into the atmosphere
forming vibrant golden cloud
of female draped in glistening shroud.
“Be not afraid oh wanderer
I’m only here as just you were
and since we’re here both you and me
tell me a wonder you’d wish to see.”
I braced my feet I stilled my mind
completely entranced by her divine
appearance in this place so plain
then found my voice and thus explained,
“you’re quite a sight there in the air
of this I’m sure you’re well aware
and I a simple human soul
am much amazed by your betrothing
of my presence here with you
where we are only here us two
and since you asked what I would see
as a wonder to set free
into my life to well behold
I tell you now that you should know
I spent a many day and night
thinking on what wonder might
fulfill my life in such a way
to ever remind me of the day
I found you here inside this place
that I would never need erase
from my life and memory
where you appeared to gift to me
the miraculous wonder you propose
I could now here see unfold.
I thought about myself you see
then thought of friends and family
whom I love and hold so dear
to me throughout my living years
wanting to include them in
this wondrous moment to begin
on this day by your doing
then found myself somewhat eluding
all the fancy trivial things
that boast of grandeur on display
realizing that to me
the wondrous was mine all along you see.
I thought about our lives together.
I thought about the trials we’ve weathered.
I thought about how love did grow
from day to year as we grew old.
So hear me well and hear me clear
on this day while we are here
I have decided what I would see
become if you should give to me
a wish so true a wondered sight
the wish I would, the wish I might
be made on my behalf
I wish for life for all us last
in days together without turmoils
to spoil our bonds that make us whole
as we are both here on this day
I wish my life to live this way.”
The figure form began to glow
more bright than what I could behold
beaming brightly all around
above, below, both sky and ground
where I stood there on that day
in the presence of her display
as her celestial being grew
surrounding all the world I knew
until her majesty subsided
and the sounds around us slighted
into the sight and sound again
of where I stood once more amended
to its normal terra earth
where trees and rocks and leaves and dirt
decorated still with snow
no more emitted her ethereal glow.
“It’s as you wished,” she said to me,
“be not afraid simply believe
that all the ways you want to live
is now within the wonders gift
I give to those who just like you
search their lives for what is true
and what will truly bring to pass
the wish they wish when they are asked.
Be well dear sojourn, go in peace,
let your mind and soul be eased
as you go forth from this place
into your own world, time and space.
For my deed for you is done
and now I too must now return
into the realm where I abide
where dreamers live in dreaming life
to make seen here what only grows
inside the mind only dreamers know.”
I said farewell and thanked her kindly,
“I won’t forget you or the memory
of our meeting in this place
that we have shared here on this day.
But before you leave from here
tell me one more thing if you care
what should I do with your lamp
am I to leave it at this camp
or do I take you home with me
where safely I can rightly keep
your vessel from the spoils of loss
where weather changes often harsh
within the elements here around
where nothing but the earthen ground
is available for your keep,
tell me now what would you seek.”
“What I would seek,” she seemed surprised
and once again her round bright eyes
began to glow with vibrant light,
“I’d wish to be placed in plain sight.
In a place where all could see,
but only dreamers who believe,
would dare to take me in their hands
where wonder’s liberty has the chance
to become itself once more
within the realm of all it is for.
So if you would be ever so kind
please keep that well kept in your mind
as you ponder to decide
what you will do with where I abide.”
Then again her form did fade
from the place where I was stayed,
shrinking once again in size
into the lamp before my eyes
and as she left me there that day
I never once did hesitate
to embark on her request
to think about what would be best
to honor what she said to me
and leave the lamp where others would see
then made my way back down the path
where I well knew my dreams were at
soundly safe in my mind
where all I dreamed a million times
lived and needed life to be
all that I willed and longed to see.
Then later on that very night as
I tucked myself in right
beneath my quilt to rest my head
upon my pillows on my bed
I realized once again
the wonder I had truly gained
was the sight of the being
who amazed but took nothing
away from me but became
more than thought or a dream
in my reality there that day
where her image did display
the splendor of the never seen
that only lives in dreamers dreams.
If you tend to believe romantic, passionate, masculine poetry is a thing of past eras, read "She Intrigues Me," and be swept away in the beautiful craft of a contemporary poet of love.
Once before, not long ago,
