by Rev. Jean “Drum” Pagano
Deep in the forest
Absorbing the light
Amidst the trees
I find you
As I find myself
You are everywhere
In the realm of trees
They gather together
In darkness
And light
These sacred places
Not made by the hands of men
But by the will of Nemetona
Call them to you, Goddess
Call to them all
Temples of trees
As tall as the sky
Joined together
Common in leaf
Common in branches
I signal your name
Spoken in silence
Written in air
Seen with my eyes closed
As I cipher your name:
A tree to the fore
And the top of the world
Follow in darkness
Never in light
My palm upraised
A tree to one side
And the start of the world
Follow in whisper
Barely in light
My palm to one side
A tree to the rear
And the floor of the world
Follow in glimmer
Diffuse in light
My palm downturned
A tree to the other
And the end of the world
Follow in shadow
Absorbing the light
My palms joined as one
Your surround me,
Nemetona,
In this temple, divine:
One of your trees
One of your faithful
Once a shadow
Once a man
Once a movement
Now a tree
In your forest, divine
