Parinama

  The fragrance of the Feminine deep within the body of the earth, that quality within matter that awakens our desire for union.” Teilhard de Chardin, Cosmic Life, Prayer of the Universe All summer I have been going to the lake to swim.  Some days I go early to walk in the shadowed forest paths, read in the sun, write poetry (first time in my life drawn to expressing big thoughts in tiny things, doing it badly, but the lake was kind.) Earlier in the day, the small beach is filled with children laughing, digging, gathering salamanders, parents overfilled with the delight and exhaustion of parenting and older folks sitting stiller. Early twilight and all is quieter.  The mother mallards with their ducklings make their way over to the beach searching for discarded Cheetos. The sun on its downward path not as sharp, not as hot. It’s when I like to swim, after the heat of the day, in the quiet. This highland lake has invited me to her shores and into her body for almost 40 yea...