The Wild Places

Poetry, Photography

Finding Meaning

What, really, gives meaning to life?

In the end, we surrender
to nature. And I hope to go
with peace in my heart.

But, and I truly believe this —
if we are here as her eyes and ears
and as vessels for her growth

if she learns from us —

from when our fingertips touch a dewdrop
for the first time, or when we breathe the air
exhaled from a glacier, or we watch a fern unfurl,
delicate whorl upon delicate whorl —

we can never stop.

We need to hunger in our hearts unceasingly
for meaning, for those gossamer threads
which we can almost see, but will never
fully comprehend.

We need to touch the wild places
in nature and in the essence of our beings.

Without that quest,
there would no reason

to be.

Erika Burkhalter is a yogi, neurophilosopher, cat-mom, photographer, and lover of travel and nature, spreading her love and amazement for Mother Earth’s glories, one photo, poem or story at a time. (MS Neuropsychology, MA Yoga Studies).

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Story and photos ©Erika Burkhalter. All rights reserved.

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