The journey called And I answered Stripping Sacred clothing That held me And bound me Naked wildness I danced With feet on earth A child Playing in the woods Learning Magic arts Forest darkness Held me Free To explore my depths Playing Worshipful laughter At the joke That ravished, Tormented Stripped again Bare, Bruised, Raw Smiling still Through tear streaks New Inner demons greeted With childlike wonder Wisdom opened Innocence Embodied The shedding now imperative As the incline Required focus Burdens Of fear and pattern Dropped As feet became Comfortable with stones beneath Strengthened Emerging From forest shade Into the light At pinnacle I found Cedar Tree of life gushing Living Waters A pool of coolness For this fiery lotus To rest And bloom Admiring each other Strong as sinuous trunk Tender as flaming petals Nourishing And being nourished In naked Freedom