– Pascoe Hawthorn

Last year I met a woman from the Middle East. She was smart and interesting, funny and insightful. I thought she was quite beautiful too. Yet she carried with her some insecure feelings.

Our connection was strong because of both similarities and differences but circumstances meant we could not be together much. We have spent almost a year experiencing attraction and attachment, separation and longing. Despite the difficulties, the few sweet hours and other special moments we shared have made it worthwhile continuing together but apart.

The intensity of the feelings remains like nothing I have experienced before, despite my own fortunate circumstances. She challenges me to think differently and consider other perspectives; she has awoken in me a renewed passion for life. She has brought many things to my world for which I am grateful. Her light shines brightly along my path. I like to think I am a force for good in her life, but of that I cannot be sure.

She has inspired me to write down feelings as short poems. There are more to come and our story isn’t written yet but let me share part of our journey…

We acknowledge the traditional land we live on and this builds in us a resilience drawn from the adversity faced by successive generations:
Rain turns to snow
The buffalo face into it with resolve
And inspiration passes to us

We feel connected to the geography that surrounds us and it brings a sense of being a historic meeting place of cultures:
East brings hope
Only gently warming my path until
A Western embrace

The beauty and rawness of the natural environment found here strongly influences our thinking:
Fate will be carved
Under the curve of the moon
Captured in the cold morning dew

The strength of community here allows us to be patient and have hope for our future:
Fear not longing
Nor lasting wounds nor melancholy
For we have time