The Guarded Heart

Through the Lilac Forest, 

in a land far away,

Beyond waterfalls 

where elves and fairies play,

Making music, frolicking 

beneath flowers all day,

a pair of angry dragons slept,

Guarding a heart once flesh 

but now made nearly stone.

Fairies and elves are no match 

for a dragon, not to mention two! 

To rescue a hardening, broken heart

will take more than glue. 

It will take patience and Love 

you never imagined was in you.

You must prepare to face the dark forest, 

to make it to Rippling Rock outpost.

Once there, you’ll find rest

by its quiet waters.

The beauty you’ll see will 

sometimes feel like it's filled

your own heart to the brim, but remember,

the broken heart tonheal is nearly empty

and cannot see, even from inside, 

the joy you’re taking in.

Shhh, quiet. Listen.

Is that the Dragon called, Anxiety,

that raised its dragon head?

Or was it the dragon called 

Depression rumbling,

Keeping the guarded hearts’

fears well fed?

So prepare yourself –

With your staff and shield,

With your pack and prayer,

With your stories and songs,

With your visions and dreams –

And go forward.

Listen to the sky above you, 

To the earth beneath your feet,

To the children and elders among

you,  to the the chamber chorus 

of your own tender heart.

Know that grace will lead 

if you will follow,

and mercy will follow 

if you let Love lead,

and when all else fails 

listen and be still to receive.

When finally you’ve passed 

behind Fairy Falls, and climbed 

the glistening stair, 

to meet the tallest (and deepest) 

tree the legends call -

the Compassionate, Ancient One, 

whose great roots nurture all -

when you stand before 

Will of the Trees,

Take refuge among her great roots, 

Under the banner of leaf love learn, 

let go of what makes hearts stone.

Shelter here, unburden your 

questions, doubts and fears

But do so reverently, with 

deep patience bear His speaking 

so slowly, for it takes great effort 

to reveal the divine in language 

so lowly, these many ages of

learning from water, soil, and sun,

riverside planted, trusting never toiling.

Now, you might survive the road 

still ahead even without 

The Ancient One’s blessing, 

but it’s ill-advised, for without it, 

most will sit in the garden, 

at the stone resting, but never make

it all the way to the heart still stressing.

So, rather than just make a home 

by the moved stone, and live 

just beyond the dragon’s reach,

Take the time to set up camp 

in the cove of Crystal Beach,

And here, in your heart, 

the Trees’ wisdom She’ll seed.

Listen deeply, this is your food.

Like your meals, these lessons 

in Love will sustain you,

like living water, bubbling up 

renewing the old, they'll quench 

the thirst of your soul;

skip them at your own peril, 

hoard them and miss the point.

Dine well and drink deep, 

linger but don't stay, for remember, 

at the journey’s close, 

As the sun sets each day, 

the dragons still wait 

but the hardening broken heart can’t.

We must go now! And Every day! 

There are dragons still to slay.

-PreetamDas Kirtana