A Gathering of Friends
Hudson Valley, New York
I received this poem earlier last week by email from my friend, Hipólito Orlando Sánchez, who lives in Tivoli, New York.
On his beautiful Hudson Valley property are Cafh Foundation Retreat Houses where gatherings of friends meet every year.
He dedicated this poem to those friends.
I count myself fortunate to be one of them.
A Gathering of Friends
I’ll meet you in the evening
When the birds return to the trees,
The wind stops
And time stands still.
.
I’ll listen to your thoughts and
My soul becomes a valley, deep and wide
Where your words have echoes long
Sustained until the flower buds open.
.
I’ll hush. That’s all I want,
Because music flows in the air,
The rocks shed light,
And our souls become transparent.
.
Then I’ll risk another word:
An answer, a memory, a suggestion,
Perhaps a concept, an experience or a doubt
Our echoes open wings, like butterflies
And disappear beyond the hills.
.
When we depart we’ll wave to one another from the distance.
But there’s a space where we’ll keep together.
What we said were seeds to sprout in future valleys.
Who knows what birds will come, then,
To sing their songs on our shoulders.
.
.
To read more of Hipólito's work, visit:
Landscape of the Soul by Hipólito Sánchez
About the Creator
PK Colleran
"There are people who write, but I think they’re quite different from people who must write."
Harper Lee
Writer, translator, seeker
Editor of Landscape of the Soul by Hipólito Sánchez and Words Matter by Jorge Waxemberg
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Comments (10)
A beautiful poem… very deep.
So happy you were inspired to share his gorgeous work. The cover photo is fantastic as well. Happy belated congrats, P.K.!
The final stanza is incredibly moving; the idea that shared words become seeds for future growth is profoundly comforting.
Beautiful
Beautiful read
This poem beautifully captures the sacredness of human connection and shared reflection. The imagery of valleys, echoes, and birds creates a serene meditation on friendship that endures beyond physical presence.
"When we depart we’ll wave to one another from the distance. But there’s a space where we’ll keep together. What we said were seeds to sprout in future valleys." These were my favourite lines from his poem. Your photo is so beautiful. Congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
I spend a lot of time in Rhinebeck, just around the corner from Tivoli. I adore that corner of the world - and the fellowship I've been lucky enough to find there, as well. If you haven't already, I recommend the beer from Suarez Brewing Company and the sandwiches from Tivoli General Store on your next trip!
Loved how this unfolded — such natural emotion
Because music flows in the air,The rocks shed light And our souls become transparent. What a wonderful tribute and fantastic poem