Author Information
The Road to Essertines [Book Collection]
The Road to Essertines
Ugonna Wachuku
(c) April 1997
Contents:
Dedication
Prologue
The Harvest I
The Harvest II
Cathie
Dreams
Now
Barefooted
Forever
This
Lonely Eagle
Brooks to You
Aglow
Distant Streams
When Dawn Comes
River Bird
The Moon Never Departs
When the Birds Sing
The road
Flower
Silence
She will Be
This Earth in You
For the Beginning
I Remember Who You Are
Winter in your Heart
Masterpiece II
Back Again
Beckon Eagles
Moon Angel
Masterpiece
Farewell
The Author
Dedication:
To her who became an
enigmatic muse on
The road to Essertines-
Catherine Ramu!
Prologue:
On the road to Essertines, there is no short cut.
The experience is a long, whole, breathless,
charming encounter with nature.
Yearning to be at one with enchanting country-sides of poetic
Confederation Helvetia, I set out for Essertines a small village
in the Dardagny Commune of Switzerland's Canton of Geneva.
Above of all, I went in search of her. And discovered that I
have been charmed to entrancement by the nature of her
village.
On this stupendous road to Esertines, she became an enigma
and subsequently bloomed into a Muse. The reality of this
Muse dawned on me when I discovered that within the depths
of my creative being, new forms of poetic expression were
taking shape and breathing.
In days, weeks and months that followed - between April,
1996 and February, 1997, poems in this collection were
written by me in response to the awesome creative inspiration
this enigmatic Essertines Muse brought my humble way.
For how long she will remain this Muse, I cannot tell. But
indeed, I have dedicated this collection to her as a soulful,
monumental tribute to all women and men of inspiration and
goodwill; who will, against all odds, continue to love, to
care, to cherish and to conquer evil and fatal forces that
wish to stiffle our humaneness as humankind bound in dignified
earthhood, peace and loving oneness.
Today, it is a beautiful March afternoon. The sun is brilliant
and warm. From the large window of my home library and study,
I can see Geneva's magnificent country-side greening into
splendid spring near the river Rhone. So, I will be so
grateful if you join me as I step-out for an inspired walk
on the road to Essertines!
Ugonna Wachuku
Loex village,
Bernex Commune,
Geneva, Switzerland
Thursday 13 March 1997
A:
The Harvest I
On the temple's threshold,
I await your home-coming.
I do not wait alone.
The eagle waits too.
Then, at the distance,
the farmer begins to
gather the harvest for
you and for nature.
The sower begins to
soe the seed from the
land in your heart.
The land is fertile.
Your land is green.
The rain begins to
drizzle.
The land kisses her.
The rain kisses the
land and the eagle
smiles across those
green fields luring.
The sower sows more
seeds.
The rain increases in
intensity while beneath
the sheltering tree you
sit in calm contemplation.
Then you drink from
the rain as the farmer
gathers the harvest in
the healing, fertile
rain of your land.
In your eyes, the new
harvest is seen.
New seeds begin to
sprout.
B:
The Harvest II
The Path:
I came to see you
yesterday.
I was at the farm.
Catherine:
[Shrugs]
I wasn't there.
Anyway, if you came, that was
fine of you. And whatwas your
mission?
The Path:
I came for the harvest.
These days, one never
knows when the clouds
will gather.
Catherine:
[Somewhat suprised]
The harvest! Who told you
there's a harvest?
The Path:
I am the path!
Catherine:
Aha! The Path! The Path
to what? To where?
The Path:
Yesterday, remember you were
the road. The road flows to
your river inthe heart of
Essertines. But then, I am
the Path to this harvest!
Catherine:
[Startled]
You're kidding me!
Who told you to believe
that?
The Path:
I don't need any old time
prophet to tell me that.
It's real. And don't you
forget: I am still the Path!
Catherine:
[Shrugs again. Stares]
Hmmnnmm! Talk about being
real. What do you know about
the harvest anyway?
The Path:
I was with you at the
beginning. I saw you
sitting under the tree
in the rain. The farmer
was there. The sower.
And the eagle too. I was
with you at your childhood
streams and waterfalls of
yeaterday and today - at the
spring - if you understand.
Catherine:
I could. But then, I honestly
want to know what you would say
about this harvest. I saw your
noble rainbow when the clouds
gatther. You think I didn't?
The Path:
Ah! There you are!!
But I have already told
you about the farm. What
else do you want to hear?
Catherine:
Your heartbeat!
The Path:
The Path never beats.
It trails. For the heartbeat,
I suggest you meet your friend-
eagle.
Catherine:
Okay! Then, what do
you trail?
The Path:
You
Catherine:
[Shaken. Exclaims]
Meeee! The Path
trails little me!
The Path:
Well ...
Catherine:
That's all you'll
say? - "well ..."
Why me?
Tell me.
You seem to be an
interesting character.
The Path:
I have played so many
parts in my life-span
and time. You could be right.
Catherine:
Then, what about the
harvest?
What about trailing me?
The Path:
I will tell you tomorrow
when we meet at the river.
Catherine:
The river! Where would
that be: The river?
The Path:
Listen, Catherine, the
eagles call now. I've
got to go. We'll see at
the river.
Catherine:
Hey you! Wait a second!
But The Path was gone.
Leaves in the wind
followed The Path
while at the distance,
village drummers and
dancers waited for the
harvest ceremony at a
river of life and love
yet unknown to her.
.......
.......
From my book collection: The Road to Essertines
~ Critiques/Comments ~
Amy Riberdy
winnowillwhite@hotmail.com
i AM JUST SO LOST IN A MAGICAL WORLD IN THIS WONDERFULLY SYMBOLIC &
IMAGINATORY STORY. WHO TOLD YOU I WAS THE HARVEST? (THE QUESTION...)
(THE ANSWER COMES WITH SUCH CONFIDENCE & POSSIBLY A LITTLE BIT OF
SMUGNESS: " I AM THE PATH..") THEN COMES THE CHALLENGE... AH, THE
PATH. THE PATH TO WHAT? WHERE. CATHERINE TAKES NOTHING AT FACE VALUE,
EVEN ONE WHO CLAIMS TO KNOW IT ALL... I AM SO IMPRESSED.... WELL
DONE. AMY
http://www.postpoems.com/members/gentle
Mona Omar
monao3@yahoo.com
wow ugonna the road to essertines is lovely but the path was gone
leaves in the wind followed the path river of life and love yet
unknown to her ?! wow its beautiful
http://www.postpoems.com/members/mona
Charisma *T.A.* Makatita-Poortman
shyrena@wanadoo.nl
I am truly impressed by your talent. Thank you for sharing your
wonderful thoughts. Charisma ~*TMP*~
http://www.postpoems.com/members/charisma
