And What If We Hadn’t Stayed?

And when we woke, we were grateful we’d stayed, if for no other reason than the sunrise,

and the monolith rising up from the still surface.

Recalling his study of mythology,

Pa suggested it might be a geologic Persephone, sinking to the underworld at night,

resurrected each day by the call of the sun.

Hmmmmm . . . I didn’t think Pa was capable of such flights of imagination.

He surprised me again, “Let’s go see what’s there.” I was hesitant, reminding him we’d planned to return to Nafplion after breakfast.

“Young man, we stayed the night. Why not stay the morning?” There was no reason to argue, Pa was right.

So we embarked, crossing the thin strip connecting the land of people with some other land.

Upon arriving, it appeared uninhabited. But following the narrow road, we came upon a small dwelling, likely a hermitage.

It was obvious why a solitary monk would choose this place to fast and pray.

We would like to have stayed, but Helios had begun his ride across the sky.

A bit further and a door welcomed,

leading us to a small community of departed. What better place to lay one’s head.

Fearing we might disturb, we exited,

following the path until a bend in the road revealed another entry.

I suggested to Pa we turn back, as this likely was the end of our walk. “We’ve come this far, young man. Perhaps there’s something beyond.”

And he was right.

Around every turn, there was the light of a new day dawning.

The light of a clear blue morning,

and of a brand new day.

Near the exit was a coffee shop,

a magical place,

of sun, and blue, and ferries too.

We would have stayed, but . . .

Lost in thoughts of dream and whimsy, we happened to look down at the same moment -

and wondered,

why not?

Refreshed, we returned to the other world.

Looking back a last time,

I nudged Pa, ”What was that place?”

”The better question, young man, is what if we hadn’t stayed.”

Back at the Pramataris, we gathered our things and ate in silence.

Recalling a line by the Hungarian writer Antal Szerb:

. . . while there is life there is always the chance something might happen,

I gave thanks for my life, my family, and the second chance Pa’s been given.

Postscript

Just as I sat to write, Ju texted a new song,

actually a new rendition of an old song by Dolly Parton - Light of a Clear Blue Morning

It's been a long dark night

And I've been a-waiting for the morning

It's been a long hard fight

But I see a brand new day dawning

I've been looking for the sunshine

You know I ain't seen it in so long

But everything's gonna work out just fine

And everything's gonna be all right

‘Cause I can see the light of a clear blue morning

I can see the light of a brand new day

I can see the light of a clear blue morning . . .

I’m thinking, what a beautiful song for Persephone.