“You asked for a retreat”

Following the first Creative Retreat one of the participants wrote the following poem about their experience.

You asked for a retreat

We quickly surrendered, for we knew in our hearts, 

We will be enchanted by the gardens of Lord and Lady Erskine 

And sweet slumber awaits us in the four posts of Lady Lucy's bed, 

(Once wife of John Ffolliott, M.P of Wardtown)

A retreat from the world to the forgotten kingdoms 

Of laughter and freedom, of lost remembrance of who we are, 

Our natural selves lost in the time warp of daily living.  

We came to find the balance between life and work and 

Found instead the treasures of imagination and creativity.

Thank you for the river that flowed 

Beneath the bridges of our concrete hearts, cleansing 

Away the hardy thorns of work and work 

Or was that work and life? Same difference to me.

Free at last to be happy and childlike, to forget the world, 

But we shall stand easy in this moment forever, 

For we shall capture the trees, the waterfall, the glasshouse 

And the cartwheeling children forever in our hearts. 

(If possible, we shall take lady Lucy's four poster bed with us too)

~Christy Aliu~