The Roosters

Photo: (c) Jamie K. Reaser

“Wake up!”

“It is time to rise!”

***

One morning, I awoke from a dream in which

roosters were crowing, and there were

still roosters crowing. I didn’t have roosters

at the time. Well, I didn’t when I went to

sleep the night before. I caught them by

the stream, near the road, in the pouring

rain. My legs were cut by the mountain laurel

and bleeding. It felt like childhood.

I loved those roosters. They lived with me for

eight months before they decided to try

to kill each other. I put them in my shower

to wash all the blood off and then nursed

them back to health. I gave one to the lady

who works at the post office and kept

the other one – the orange one that got

along well with the dog. The fox ate that

one while I was away. It felt like having

something precious stolen – like adolescence.

I loved those roosters.

***

I’ve spent a lot of time over the years thinking

about waking up – how we have a delicate yet

powerful moment gifted to us in which we can

imagine our way into everything that is to follow.

Every day we get the chance to emerge from the

darkness and take a dream forward to an

anticipating sky.

Somewhere, in my adult life, I have found a

grand responsibility in this – in waking up.

I miss my roosters dearly, but I no longer need

their reminders.

***

“Wake up!”

“It is time to rise!”

That’s my voice you are hearing.

© 2017-2020/Jamie K. Reaser

From "Truth and Beauty" (a work in progress)

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