Arrival follows departure and, unless you work tirelessly to avoid them, solitary travel invariably collects companions. One week at Verité Community in Auroville was in depth and breadth closer to a month, or months; so, since departure follows arrival, this leave-taking was sweeter and more heart-tugging than I would have expected from a visit of days. Imagine the hidden places our love lives, when we say goodbye to affections we nurtured for years?

Journey Be Your Friend

Journey Be Your Friend – Mark Schultz

So now it’s time to say goodbye
we knew this hour would come
for every day will have its night
and every wheel turns round
and every hand that you have held
will feel more empty now

We shoulder our loads and take to our roads
let the journey be our friend
the horizon it seems will collect all our dreams
but a circle begins where it ends
behind every eye that you have held
is a seed you have watered well

instrumental

So let’s share a smile and hug for a while
don’t let go — ’til the heart is full
to touch the skin of this shell that we’re in
is to learn that we’re not alone
and other skies may wash your eyes
with memories if they will