We were happy to receive a beautiful poem from Julian Mullins, who was a participant in an 8-day San Juan River trip and Navajo service project that we ran for the Eugene Waldorf School in May. Julian is clearly an imaginative and talented writer, having previously won a gold medal for the state of Oregon in the Scholastic Art and Writing awards. In the following poem, he really conjures the essence of the elements of air, water and sky, along with something of the mood of being on the river: being pulled along, feeling the breeze, surrendering to the force of the water, becoming closer to the earth. Julian wrote:

This poem I actually wrote during our one hour of alone time alongside the San Juan river on the trip! I thought it turned out pretty well. I was inspired by a lone leaf which was drifting through the air and I thought “what would it be like to be a leaf” so I came up with this.

Journey of a Leaf

Gently I float along; adrift in an endless sky.

I feel the open expanse surround me.

I’ve lost the connection with my home; my gentle creator,

Now I’m alone, with no power of will,

Just floating adrift.
 

As I feel the strength of the wind,

I emerge into another element.

This is soft and soothing, an embracing parent,

Carrying me slowly, along its watery flow,

Just floating softly.
 

As I begin to feel the water’s grace,

I wash up onto another element.

This is hard and reassuring,

I am no longer moving; instead I am still,

Just so still.
 

Finally I feel a gentle combining,

As of a merging of elements.

Silky water on one side,

Earthy ground on the other,

And flowing air above.

Blissful peace envelops me,

And I sleep.