I stand on my hilltop
And gaze
At those very other hills
Yearning-blue and distant
Fringing the horizon
Silent, they call to me
Wordless, they make promises
Of those things undefined
That my soul has need of.
I should like to travel
Into that smoky-distant land
Till those far hills become
Green beneath my feet.
To claim their promises
And to look beyond
To see what further hills
And further promises
There may be.
Those hills, once visited
Would be the same as these:
Yet knowing that does not reduce their magic now,
And I would still wish to travel that direction.
They call to me.
They stir me deep
With hints of a fulfilment
Of needs yet undefined
That brood, unnamed but potent
Somewhere within.
I cannot travel to those hills today
My legs are tired
And there are duties to attend.
Life’s endless preoccupation
With the details of it’s own existence.
The far hills thus keep their distance
Their promises unclaimed
Yet still remaining:
And so preserving hope.
For, while the hills continue
And while my soul can still discern their call
And while I can yet be thrilled by their mere existence
Then someday I may still go
And seek, and see, and stand upon those hills!
Upon those heart-aching slopes.
And is this not the whole of life?
To see beyond the here and now
And be stirred by visions - dreams – promises!
To believe in fulfilment
To trust in what we cannot fully see!
These hills of spirit
Are farther yet than earthly hills
Harder yet to visit
Life’s busyness a still greater barrier
To that adventurous journey.
But whi1e they still exist
And while my heart can hear their call
And while I can still dream
And can still by dreams be thrilled….
Then hope abides!
The hills may yet be visited
I may be fulfilled,.
Lord,
Lord who first created dreams
Lord who first gave us vision
Lord, of your mercy
Keep my soul sensitive to that call
And my eyes alive to see that vision:
Let not the busyness or cynicism of this life
Take the hills promise from my heart.
October 1993
And gaze
At those very other hills
Yearning-blue and distant
Fringing the horizon
Silent, they call to me
Wordless, they make promises
Of those things undefined
That my soul has need of.
I should like to travel
Into that smoky-distant land
Till those far hills become
Green beneath my feet.
To claim their promises
And to look beyond
To see what further hills
And further promises
There may be.
Those hills, once visited
Would be the same as these:
Yet knowing that does not reduce their magic now,
And I would still wish to travel that direction.
They call to me.
They stir me deep
With hints of a fulfilment
Of needs yet undefined
That brood, unnamed but potent
Somewhere within.
I cannot travel to those hills today
My legs are tired
And there are duties to attend.
Life’s endless preoccupation
With the details of it’s own existence.
The far hills thus keep their distance
Their promises unclaimed
Yet still remaining:
And so preserving hope.
For, while the hills continue
And while my soul can still discern their call
And while I can yet be thrilled by their mere existence
Then someday I may still go
And seek, and see, and stand upon those hills!
Upon those heart-aching slopes.
And is this not the whole of life?
To see beyond the here and now
And be stirred by visions - dreams – promises!
To believe in fulfilment
To trust in what we cannot fully see!
These hills of spirit
Are farther yet than earthly hills
Harder yet to visit
Life’s busyness a still greater barrier
To that adventurous journey.
But whi1e they still exist
And while my heart can hear their call
And while I can still dream
And can still by dreams be thrilled….
Then hope abides!
The hills may yet be visited
I may be fulfilled,.
Lord,
Lord who first created dreams
Lord who first gave us vision
Lord, of your mercy
Keep my soul sensitive to that call
And my eyes alive to see that vision:
Let not the busyness or cynicism of this life
Take the hills promise from my heart.
October 1993
