Ruach – a poem by Yvonne Baker

Ruach 

the wood sighs for us

we walk the sandy path
unaware 
of its green breath. 

	the wood sighs 
even on a day 
while all is still 

as if 
the trees have ceased 
			breathing

	the wood sighs 
to be known
	for us to touch 
and smell 

	listen 
to its fragile dawn

receive its darkness

	the holly bush burns 
with light 

	the grey oak 
a sacrament of leaves 
			sighs out 
its breath for us

as God sighs to be known in us 



Quotation: Ibn al-Arabi, Sufi mystic, 1165 — 1240 

Ruach — Hebrew for  breath/wind/spirit