Valerie Drew / The solo journey: snow, sun and sheep on the hill…

The outward journey…

Snow , falling gently on frozen ground

lightens sky and track

in the distance wood smoke rises from a tipi

leaving wispy traces in the cold, clear air

Solo participants taking their places around the circle of stones

surrounding a fire which crackles and spits

offering some comfort from the cold, winter chill

a singing bowl rings out  heralding  daybreak and time to step over another threshold

Trekking uphill, boots crunching in snow

ice cracking beneath my feet,  freezing wind biting my face

clouds tinged with pink seeming to warm the early morning winter sky

and a grouse, startled, flies low across my path.

Sun rising now beyond the hill sets clouds ablaze

before reaching a crescendo and

bursting over the horizon

 heralding a new day bright with hope and possibilities

Sheep on distant slopes

wandering aimlessly  over frozen ground

baaing hungrily and incessantly

waiting to be fed and nourished

The return journey…

Snow… a stark reminder of November 2010

when usual habits were disrupted

when global became local

when we asked questions of climate change…

Sun… dipping low in a pale wintery sky

drawing the day to a close

marking the passing of time and

reminding me of the temporal nature of life…

Sheep…   familiar now on these frozen hills

form an orderly  line behind a farmer’s quad

an indication of changing landscapes, of our impact on the land

and make me think about the global food supply

a Solo participant… returning slowly along the path ahead

seems to offer  support and challenge

opening up possibilities for me to think which path will ‘we’ take now?

Who will walk with me, talk with me, care with me, change with me?

Finally… gathering clouds obscure the sun  

signalling the end of this solo experience

returning to the tipi, I cross the threshold once more

wondering what we will take forward from this …