27 Comments
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artermix's avatar

What a nice write up, it is very touching, and the poem, I am not a poetry person actually, but it was easy to understand. I really like how you described your experience comparing it to a river and a tributary.

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Karafree's avatar

Thank you my dear friend!!! I am not a poetry person either, but I guess the whole experience just seemed to flow out of me poetically!

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Victory Palace's avatar

Glad to see you back Karafree with such a beautiful post describing your lovely experience with River. A lesson we could all learn from about how life is a river that we flow along with or go against, or where it's going (to the sea called Eternity...)

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Karafree's avatar

Thank you Victory Palace! yes the river is a living metaphor!! Hope you are doing well!

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Stone Bryson's avatar

Whoa, this amazing. The beautiful yet powerful experience with River, the painting... all of it.

Thank you so much for sharing this... ☺️

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Karafree's avatar

I so appreciate you coming by Stone. Thank you so much for your validating comment!

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Rosemary B's avatar

You are brave. I think I used to be brave.

I adore your painting, it is really beautiful.

Thank you for writing this all out. I loved it but it made me sad and longing for

so many things in the past.

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Karafree's avatar

Thank you for reading Rosemary. My heart goes out to you... grief is that remembering of something loved but no longer present. I know that feeling. Every time I look out my door and see River's bed.. I haven't been able to remove it yet. It is the loss of a "pattern" we grew to love, that became a part of our everyday life. It is really hard. big HUG to you!! Everyday, I just say out loud, and from in my heart, when I look at the bush that he used to jump out from and surprise me....I love you River... I hope he can hear me!

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Rosemary B's avatar

River looked very much like my Pierro. He was an indoor kitty and I loved him so much. He died way too soon. I do call out to him and tell him I love him.

You are really very brave. I am not there yet.

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Karafree's avatar

So sweet Rosemary.. And even harder when they leave way too soon😌

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Jacqueline Rendell's avatar

Weeping into my coffee over here, I'm feeling all of this into every cell, like an echo of you.

Kara, my dear kindred sister, this is so, so beautiful. A perfect tribute to River. The pain you experienced is now a poetic elixir of wisdom and of remembering....

So much love to you and to River. 💙💙💙

"River came not to stay,

but to remind me of what never leaves.

He was the tributary

to my river.

And though his form has dissolved,

he has sanctuary in my heart

My grief is not weakness

It is the last ripple of his teaching.

Let it flow. Like the River."

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Karafree's avatar

big Heart hug! back to you my lovely friend! thank you for being there, for being a good listener!

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Anomalous Anonymous's avatar

Love the painting! It nearly looks like a photo.

And a touching heartfelt story of River as well.

Welcome back and thank you for sharing Kara! 🙏💖

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Karafree's avatar

Hi There Anomalous Anonymous! good to hear from you and thank you about the painting. My friends got married in that chapel.. that was my wedding gift. It took me 2 years to paint... because I was afraid to paint the mts... LOL. Thank you for your comment!

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Anomalous Anonymous's avatar

What a lovely gift

Kara! You are very

welcome.

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James Crockett's avatar

Beautiful story, Kara

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Karafree's avatar

thank you James!! thanks for reading!

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Calen Tanner Lightheart's avatar

Thank you Kara, this came at the very moment I am going through so much with my 3 dogs, dozens of cats and 27 goats. I have loved so many cats in my life only to see them disappear, without a trace. They have taught me so much and their love is unconditional. I want to protect them all, but living on the very edge of wilderness, makes the a part of the food chain out here.

It hurst every time, but I cherish the short time we have together and tell them I love them many times each day

Looks like you found the River I made this song about 35 years ago when I wrote it:

https://odysee.com/@Calentannerlightheart:8/if-i-find-a-river-by-robert-otey:d

The Rock Ballad version:

https://odysee.com/@Calentannerlightheart:8/crooked-trail-by-robert-otey:1

I wrote this song near Moctezuma Peak in Southern Colorado and the image for the song is a few minutes before I crossed The Rocky Mountain divide on Horseback, which was at a time when I was crossing the divide in my own life, leaving the programmed xtian me for the new free me, who could see the symbolic Nature of the True Christ within all of us and dedicate my life to finding the truth in all things, for Christ told us, "the truth sets us free" and I know that to the core of my soul now.

Many Blessing and Much Love!

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Karafree's avatar

Hi Calen, you've been on my mind many times this summer! You and I seem to walk similar paths. Doing the deep dives reconnect with the truth, that some try to hide. We both KNOW that Nature always shows us, sitting in the quite of the forest, resting in the shade by the river the breeze whispers, the genuine love we feel from our animal friends. And yes, I know too well that caregiver desire to protect the innocent, to care for the sweet little ones...this was part of my experience this summer, Loving without needing to control. Let's talk soon! thanks for sharing your music, I will check them out soon... it's early morning here.

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OK's avatar

WOW! I admit that this story did make me shed a couple of tears.

The inner experience you felt on your walk this summer is stunningly beautiful. It is your honesty and unabashfull sincerety to share your private spiritual experience that makes your writing so captivating.

Thank you Kara. You are a poet.

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Karafree's avatar

Ok you are a man with a deep heart, and in tune with your feelings! And a hard walk in this life! I appreciate you! You are an artist too... I've seen your work, your skill. HUGS!

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OK's avatar

I appreciate your compliment.

Thank you.

I love all your Beautiful paintings.

Hugs back to you my friend.

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Karafree's avatar

Thank you!

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OK's avatar

Thank s for the compliment. I for to say that I really love your paintings! How do you do that? Simply amazing!

A warm HUG from me to you ( )

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Karafree's avatar

I don't know..it just comes thru. This last painting took two years because I didn't have any confidence in doing it

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kitten seeking answers's avatar

beautiful, you are the “stray” human that River found 😻

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Karafree's avatar

Thank you Kitten!!! There are many of us now, waking up!! Including you!!!

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