Like a winter leaf

Here is another poem by Hannah Mackay. She is a shiatsu practitioner in Manchester and wrote a lovely poem about her pregnancy

This one is about Yin and resting. Very apt at this time of year, as we can be tempted to do too much as we feel the days lengthen. It is still time to support our Yin!

Enjoy!

 

Like a winter leaf

 

Remember

You know how to rest.

Remember

You know how to settle down

Like a winter leaf.

 

The life lit summer spent tip-stalk extending a high branch

Reaching out, always up towards the light

Turning to the sun, working, transforming

Her shine to growth and substance

A full-growth flutter of verdant life.

 

And then the release of the working green

The glory colours revealed –

Were you orange, crimson, scarlet? –

Before the thrill of the wind-blown

Air dance fall flutter

Whirling plummeting drop.

 

You know how to rest now,

You know how to settle down,

A dark winter leaf brown on the ground

Darkening.

Time slows,

No work to do

Feeding the tree

With your being body

Holding moisture

Bringing goodness.

Gradual sinking

Merge with Earth

Autumn comes round again soon

So soon, more leaves fall

Leaves upon leaves

Leaves upon leaves upon soil

Down in the dark

Let yourself go

Rest

Nourish

Roots

Hannah Mackay

June 2013