Made of Stars

Reflections of a Curious Child

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Her inquisitive eyes reach for the sky; searching, searching for life in amongst a canopy of green. Her long fingers outstretched, they merge like a zip, gently touching fluffy clouds, oh how she wanted to bounce into them right now. It is a place to dream, her stairway to heaven, the realms of ngā ātua, the ancestors, and here she is at heaven’s feet woven seamlessly into the roots, grounded, at one with the earth. Here, is where dreams become reality.

“My sunshine has come, there’s no more rain in this cloud…”

Her song lingers, finding those spaces in between tangled branches and decaying leaves, those hidden spaces of freedom, untouched. She skips, a rhythm of intent. Each step leaves an imprint in the forest floor, creating her master plan. The world hums along, a symphony of fresh air and worth every breath to get to where she wants to be.

The smell of fresh pine mixed with some native, strong, it tickles her nose. A big fat “tihe i a mauriora” rushes forth like a gush of wind — haaaaaaa, the breath of life! “Yes, I am alive!”

Rātā, Kahikatea — some of the great elders of this forest, she knows them well. But where are the others? Questions, so many questions…