By John G. Sutton

© John G. Sutton 1999

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Within this short collection of poetry and prose the author attempts to tell the story of the spiritual journey of a soul. The book begins before the beginning, in the world beyond during which time the yet to be born soul is preparing for birth. There the individual that is to live prepares to meet their incarnate future. It is a time of hope in which the soul makes many commitments and promises for the life that is to be.

At birth the infant cries that it has come to this great stage of fools, but come it has with promises to keep. There is no conscious memory of that time spent in preparing this young life for the brief earthly journey it must undertake. Now are the days of learning, of discovery and the death of innocence as shades of this world's prison house close in the spirit of our child.

Within the world and all its many mysteries the soul incarnate moves and learns from walking up and down in it. Here lies temptation, sins, sorrows and the life that started full of promises loses its way and takes diverse directions. The commitments made in the land before birth are now long forgotten. Here all is vanity and the pursuit of material pleasure. For a time the road taken by the soul leads only to despair. But within the spirit there is an eternal flame that is the love of God. In the very darkest hour of the darkest night it shines once more.

Seeking help and companionship the soul seeks out and finally finds a partner to walk alongside them on this hard and often difficult road that we call life. Within this partnership the soul touches heaven, and, probably for the first time in this incarnation, senses the meaning of its existence. The partnership produces children and so the cycle of eternal life continues.

With age the soul begins to understand that the material world is little more than an elaborate illusion and seeks spiritual enlightenment. Now comes the time of parting, when those whom the soul has loved and shared their journey with must move on into the next phase of their eternal life. The soul may doubt and question the truth of God's never ending love but in time will awaken in paradise to discover that there is no death, only life.

In the next world the soul may yet yearn for those that are left behind. Whilst they that remain seek solace in their memories. This is the period of transition, between this world and the one beyond the veil of physical death. It is but a sleep and an awakening. In good time once more the soul will be reunited with their loved ones and rest within the fields of plenty. From there the spiritual journey of the soul begins again seeking perfection and perfect understanding. There are promises to be kept.

Outside the gentle breeze cools the whispering flowered fields. There is a sense of timeless peace and here I rest watching the cumulus clouds drifting by into infinity. Long have I dreamed of eternal yesterdays. Dreamed of lifetimes lived and those I loved and never will forget. But the world awaits me. I see it shining plain. There will be the happy highways that I shall tread on my pathway to the perfect place I seek, again. We all search, we are searching now, for the right way, the truth and the glory of tomorrow and tomorrow when we live once more.

There stands my teacher, my guide, my true and trusted friend who will walk invisible beside me as I step forward into the next generation of my eternal existence. There are smiling faces with me now. These are the friends I have loved before, will love again and again in lifetimes yet to be. They stand before me now and in my heart is peace and hope. My teacher is by my side, says I have learned my lessons well, walked the true pathway before and will now walk once more. Together we have made our promises, now we keep them.

Outside the gentle breeze cools the whispering flowered fields……..

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She cries and softly whispers my name. It is an earthly name and mine for the short while I will be here on this darkling plane. See the tears of her eyes. Those gentle hands that hold me, press me to her warm body. Mother, this is my new mother and I her infant child in arms held safe, for this brief time. Together we cry, she for joy and I for the innocent air that I breathe. Somewhere beyond there is an empty room in a house overlooking many flowered fields. There the gentle breezes blow and those I have loved, will love again, are speaking my eternal name. But I am gone from that place of plenty, gone to a new home under a crueller sky where winds less gentle blow by.

Father above me touches my brow and speaks of his pride. Flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood, bone of my bone. Words bless me. Name me aloud and voices sing out around rejoicing that I am here. For I am here and all that has been before has melted into the mists of time. All that I once knew has left me. All I have loved behind me now and yet before me the whole world awaits. Softly she whispers my name and I am here now, on this darkling plane.

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Seasons of years move me onwards. There the first daffodil of spring and the thrush sing song singing on the newly budded branch touches my heart. Knowing the secret of rain I still chase the purple hued and yellow bow across the green fields of my youth. And I see forever trapped in that long fertile landscape of life a natural force bursting from beneath every stone. There in the dewy moss a simple buttercup raises its head searching for the sun. My limbs are blessed by the lengthening days as summer approaches and all this world throbs endlessly alive.

Seasons of years moving me onwards. Lessons learned, new friends befriended. Mother and Father, loving hands and firm voices echoing warnings that I will not heed. This is my life. Feel my feet upon solid ground. Know my strength, my will to live in my own way. I have tasted the fruits of this material world. Tested myself in the furnace of life and been burned. Now I know the sad secret of rain.

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Admire the shimmering silk of my clothing. The cut is the best and definitely a la mode. Believe I look fine in the frippery of the fashion that I indulge. And I gaze upon my reflection in many a glass. Fortune falls at my feet and fair friends congratulate me. There are ways. There are means. I have been there, seen their tricks and mastered them all. How swift my rise and how glorious. Like the sun, the golden child of nature, kissed by the gods. I will aspire to more than mere mortals dare to dream of. Having tasted the bitter rain of failure I will now succeed.

But vanity has no rewards. Vanity is an empty chalice that disappoints the traveller who must, in time discover the essence is vanished. Lost on the way the sparkling nectar of life is replaced with an empty golden sheen. The warm days of early summer, when the sun of success burned so brightly, gone. Now only shadows remain, and a dream of the fleeting false glory that was yesterday.

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Far from the sunset stands this land of deep disgrace where I walk with head low. But there is a light breaking over the horizon of a distant hill, the place that I must go. The pathway now uneven, it turns and twists and bends. So hard to find the right path, so hard without a friend. There I see a village, there are people, and they are kind. Feed me, clothe me, and comfort my sorely troubled mind. Though I have walked in the darkness, now I walk in the light sublime.

You held my hand and saved me, your smile touched my heart. Together we walked forward, no more would we two part. Vows we shared between us. We aimed them at the sky, and swore that our love was forever, until the day we die.

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Our union of heart, mind and body brought new life into this world of cares. Our children grow and prosper of troubles unaware. They are blessed with the innocence of life and we help them see. Try to guide their footsteps away from the woes that befell we. But out in the land of darkness, the devil sings his song. Far from the safety of our home, there in the swelling throng. And we pray that God will spare them, our children that grow so soon. If love were enough they would be saved, but they too hear Satan's tune.

There are duties to be done and promises we must heed. The way forward seems a straight path along this we gather speed. And, too quickly see late summer sun breaking over the next hill. By our sides the spirit guides are watching us still.

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Now the sun is passed its zenith. Here are the October years, when you and I no longer young, face the final fears. Did the children disappoint us? No, they lived as we. Learning from their own mistakes, they live in this land of the free. Free to take their own path, with promises to be told. Whilst we together take our road and the once new year grows old.

The unknown promises made, long before we were born, we kept them didn't we? And by our sides the spirit guides supported this victory. For when in need and sorrow, we called for help from above. Then from beyond the invisible hand of our guide reached out with love. But the journey is not yet over. We now face one more test before we walk into the sunset and meet our place of rest.

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Inching forward twilight falls upon the land once kissed by the sun. There as shadows lengthen I know my race is run. Yet I see you watching, caring, comforting, kind. And thoughts of all our happy years together fill my mind. Didn't we do wonders? Look at our children, think of the many mornings yet to be for them and we. We have done our duty, kept the promises made, now we are free.

Night is but a twinkling star away. An old moon creeps across the heavens waning fast. In slumbering cream coloured tones it casts a dim beam of ethereal light on this suddenly silent land. It is tired, its days are done. Time fades away on this earth and I will soon be gone. I know you won't forget me, and I will wait for you in the world beyond where gentle breezes cool the many flowered fields. Until then, just whisper my name to the moonbeams and I will there, I will always be there.

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The old moon has completed its journey through the sky. Yet there remains on the land a fond memory of silver beams shining on those that remain. Too soon, it seemed, the days fast fled. Too quickly the course was run. Now all that is left are memories of distant years shared under the sun. We can not wish our time away, each life has a destination. And though we see no reason there may be a divine explanation. We question God and wonder why it is that our loved one had to die. It is a question that has an answer, but not under this sky.

Perhaps the architect that planned the pathway that we walk has more tasks in this earthly domain. We little know what promises we made that may remain. So, in hope and trust in God we walk the now lonely way. Dreaming our dreams of what has been in the world of yesterday.

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It seemed impossible but yet it is so. There to greet me my father and so young he seems, could this be but dreams? Far away in the distance I see a house standing proud on long green hill overlooking a silver shimmering lake. There is an empty room within for me to fill. Gentle breezes cool the many flowered fields and I know that I am home. There are tall trees and birds singing songs so wonderful that my heart wants to sing along. Someone is calling my name and I run, I fly, if this is death then how glorious to die.

See the tears in her eyes. She cries and now softly whispers my name. Mother, my earthly mother is here holding my hand. And there stands my guide, my friend, my teacher who walked invisible by my side as I lived my life. Now I am free once more and am welcomed home to this better shore.

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