The Rustle in the Reeds

The noise had been a constant, grinding thing,
A city hum inside my weary head,
A thousand voices all competing, screaming,
Until I thought my very soul was dead.
I fled it all, the deadlines and the lights,
The endless chase for things I didn't need,
And sought the solace of approaching nights,
A quiet place to plant a different seed.

I found it by the river, overgrown,
With tangled reeds that whispered in the breeze,
A lonely bench, a world I’d never known,
A sudden, unexpected sense of ease.
The water flowed, a mirror to the sky,
Reflecting clouds that drifted slowly by.

And in that stillness, something shifted deep,
A subtle change, a tremor in my soul,
As if a promise I had failed to keep,
Was finally making me profoundly whole.
The rustle in the reeds, a gentle sigh,
A language I had somehow understood,
Was washing over me, and I don't lie,
It felt like coming home, like something good.

For years I’d chased the glitter and the gold,
The fleeting highs that left me feeling drained,
But here, beside this river, I behold,
A different beauty, one that's unrestrained.
The sun dipped low, painting the sky with fire,
And in that moment, shed my deep desire.

My skin felt warm, then strangely cold,
As if I was becoming one with it all,
The need to struggle, stories to be told,
Faded to a whisper, a gentle call.
The river's song, the cricket's evening tune,
A symphony of silence, clear and bright,
Washed away the darkness, very soon,
And filled my heart with an unexpected light.

I saw the flaws, the cracks within my heart,
The wounds I’d carried, hidden from the day,
And felt a strange compassion, set apart,
From all the judgments that had held their sway.
I forgave myself for all the things I’d done,
And knew that healing had already begun.

The wind picked up, a shiver down my spine,
But not of fear, of something new and vast,
A sense of purpose, intertwined with mine,
A connection to the future and the past.
The stars emerged, like diamonds in the night,
A tapestry of wonder, far above,
And in their glow, I saw a guiding light,
A whisper of unconditional love.

I didn't find religion, or a creed,
No sudden revelation from above,
But simply recognized a basic need,
To reconnect with something more than self-love.
To find the peace within, the quiet grace,
That dwells within this still and sacred place.

And as I walked away, the river's gleam,
Reflected in my eyes, a newfound spark,
I knew that nothing would be quite the same,
This quiet awakening, left its mark.
The rustle in the reeds, a constant guide,
To lead me forward, with the turning tide.

My heart was lighter, burdens cast aside,
A sense of freedom, I could not deny,
The river's wisdom, flowing deep inside,
A newfound strength to reach for the sky.
No longer lost, or searching in the dark,
I'd found my way, ignited a new arc.