AN ODE TO A SECRET GARDEN

When I was around eight or nine, I usually just played alone. I liked being by myself just walking around our village ( I come from the province of Davao) which was still full of different kinds of trees and shrubs (coconuts, bananas, mangoes, papaya, lanzones, etc), a little bit of rainforest nearby and we even have a natural spring just walking distance from home. I remember enjoying the solitary walks in the afternoon (feeling like Pocahontas) when it rained the night before – small nooks and crannies are filled with water – sparkling clear and undiluted, I thought you can even play and bath in it, as do these nymphs of dragonflies. I walk barefooted or with my thongs – I love the coolness of the water, pebbles, stones and grass under my feet. With these cool clear water flowing and finding its way to the river, the stones and rocks shone with their natural colors of blue, gray and brown and sometimes red - really amazing colors. I love them. And with these clear waters, I could see small fishes (gurami and catfishes) and tadpoles swimming with the flow. They usually took my attention - catching them with my hands to be kept in my own aquarium. I could get easily lost in this wonderful place where my childhood adventures were born and real. I think it was during these jubilant walks when I developed my strong love for nature – and that feeling of belonging to this beautiful place where beauty, peace, tranquillity and joy abounds. Ahh, my authentic self. Nothing compares to my secret garden - - - where magic is real and I am totally free. Where art thou?