On The Lake Poem by Suzanne Hayasaki

I went to my cottage on the lake
To leave behind everything false and fake.
I stood by the water; I sat by the hearth.
I walked in the woods and communed with the earth.

I listened to seagulls; I followed their flight.
I looked up at the stars on the clearest of nights.
I gave up diversions; I gave up the news.
I gave up companions with divergent views.

I sat at my desk with my pen in my hand
Attempting to compose sentences sagacious and grand.
But nothing would slip from my mind through my pen
And dance on the paper to fascinate men.

So even my words I abandoned to Nature.
I got up from my desk and I burned all my papers.
And as I watched all my thoughts turn to ash
A serenity filled me and I let go of my past.

So now on this island the days pass as one,
Forever the present, in sync with the sun.
The seasons flow by in their circular cycle
With me as their witness instead of their rival.