THE EAGLE ENCOUNTER
I looked for him one day in the mountains;
I wanted to find a way to communeŠ
and so I climbed to the highest of heights,
all on one golden fall afternoon.
I sat beside the rippling water
hoping to hear his voice in the breeze.
High overhead an eagle was watching perched
in his nest hidden deep in the trees.
In silence I sat waiting for answers.
Where could find him? Where should I go?
The eagle took flight and beckoned to follow
to show me the things I needed to know.
In my descent he showed me the flowersŠ
their grace and their beauty, how gently they sway.
It was almost as if I never had seen themŠ
now they were new on that glorious day.
I saw the smiles on the faces of childrenŠ
their laughter brought joy to my heart as it grew.
A radiance shown forth from the faces of strangers;
I knew he was there, my spirit's renewed!
He lives in the mountains, the streams and the forest.
He lives in the sky of indigo blue.
His spirit shines forth from the stars in the heavens.
He lives in my heart, he lives in yours too.
Carolyn Reineke Matthews
"Dedicated to John Denver"
December 30, 2000