by Emma Freeman

All day long

she wanders around

quietly looking for the lost light seeds

that are floating like fireflies

suspended in the air

separated from their source

left behind by someone who unknowingly dropped one

while in pain

while struggling or suffering

while being carefully molded by the powers that be

A few seeds here

A few seeds there

falling slowly away without them noticing

She travels to find each one

guided by an invisible map

she was given inside her subtle senses

When one appears on her path

she reaches out and carefully cups it in her soft hands

greeting it with a gentle smile of recognition

She has gathered thousands by now

kept safe in her home deep inside the dark forest

It's there that she tends to them

leaning in close and listening to their stories

and watching as their radiance grows stronger

in the presence of the others

When it’s time to venture out again

she brings many tucked against her heart

giving them back to anyone she can tell

is missing some of their light

Those who have dark spots that need filling in

like replacing the lightbulbs in a shadowy house

She does it silently as she passes by

never for attention

always to heal and to help

There are many like her

a network of light keepers

working alone

but connected by an inner sense of knowing

that they are here to protect the light

and return it to its sacred home