A
few days before Christmas, bright 7-year-old Erin Moore died after being hit by a
rock slide while hiking with a group in the mountains.
When
I heard the news, I could not help feeling pain for her family. What a trauma
they had to go through! In front of my
eyes, I could almost see a beautiful little girl, scampering through the woods,
dancing along, her hair streaming behind her, the mountains echoing her peals
of laughter.
At
the time I was on the Sunshine Coast, sketching raging water by a cliff, while
thinking of Erin at the same time. Suddenly it occurred to me that Erin died at
a creek bed, and I was standing right by a beautiful creek, surrounded by
breath-taking nature. Erin must have adored nature as much as I; somehow an
instant connection sprung up between her and me. Quietly I stole into my lodge,
stayed up late and wrote this poem for her:
The Other
Side of the Mountains
(For Erin Moore)
I will journey to the far side of the mountains,
I will be away a long while.
In my pack I put my favorite doll
and my sketch book
and your smiling eyes.
I set my tears in it too
but after a moment, I removed them.
Now, I lack nothing
nor will I shed tears.
You, on this side of the mountains might weep
lacking me,
but know that you and I will never be apart
you in my eternal gaze, and me, yours.
(Poem by Kongyin)
