The Game at the Edge of the Forest

I walk with my aged Mother
Through this year of connection
Together in proximity to
Know and comfort one another

I sit in the forest glade summoning her
She stays at the edge of the forest
Afraid to come out of the protection
I am afraid to join her in the forest

We have spent many days there
In melancholy
Performing to pass the time with
Games of order we meet
Evenly minded through
The symbols and numbers
Still relevant and true

The cards reveal a truth
"You just never know"
No amount of experience
Disproves this truth

The forest is as written
The forest of the unknown
I want to show her what
Is on the other side
But i don't know which path
She doesn't know either

So we sit together
In silence sometimes
Letting the orderly game
Guide us steadily through
Many beginnings and endings

This game brings comfort and
A call to order of different thoughts
Focused on the reminder
At some deep familiar level
We both know this is all
A part of the game
Any of which can provide
A surprise ending making us
Want to start all over again
Hoping to see and learn something more

Each game is played with the same deck
Shuffled differently each time
A lifetime of choices
Sometimes courageous sometimes passive
Sometimes lucky sometimes predictably flat
Sometimes thrilling sometimes only time consuming

Ordered by four symbols
Varying rules
Different players
Each culture draws comfort and meaning
As we are now
At the edge of the forest.

-Kelly Voelker