A reflection on transcendence — crossing to a next-level existence…

Original DDE™ art: “The Crossing” by: rob kistner © 11/14/25
—-<§>—-
there ahead
in a quiet corner of life
is a soul stirring scene
beautiful and serene
it’s Evermore Crossing
where the sky widens
where light ascends
where the wind smells of petrichor
sweet memory
and peace
where my burden will at last be stowed
in a sweet rejoining moment of release
there
a stone bridge rises
still and solid
silent as a sigh
spanning a stream of memories
sitting oh its stone shoulders
it sports a shawl
of mistied summer silver fogl
its arch casts a deep curved shadow
over this ribbon of crystal water
where fish of gold suspend
then slip slowly by
where sleek silvery fish flicker and flit
like fleeting familiar recollections
stirring odd surface reflections
occasionally breaking water
to capture glimpses—
of you and I…
of then
its waters
carry many precious memories
letting few be lost—
too steep
such cost
but rather
carefully collected
then carried onward
I approach gently
as evening light settles
around my weary shoulders
the world dimming just enough
to feel tender
to coax my blues— surrender
this bridge asks nothing—
it simply offers passage
its stones worn smooth
by the footsteps of time
by stories
of sorrows and joys
some I’ve heard
some I wrote
some I know well
some I’ll never hear
crossing feels like unraveling the fray
loosening the grip of all I have endured
to let anguish lift away
the stream below
accepts every fallen leaf
every wandering reflection
without judgment — or rejection
reflections that shimmer
then drift beyond
Evermore
all to be collected
some later reflected
on the far bank
a rolling glade opens
of purest pale gold
comforting — welcoming
Glade of Evermore
its here the light changes—
becomes rounder
richer
gentler…
…soothing
as though being shaped
by an unseen hand
as though peace itself
has taken root
embracing the land
waiting—
for you
for me
to be here…
past the worry
beyond the fear
to: enlightenment
here there is a feeling
a feeling—
that I’ve been expected
a feeling it’s been too long
yet — a feeling I belong
that I have all along
it stirs my heart-song — son
it stirs that feeling
that deep searching feeling
that feeling of— together again…
that question of— when…
that longing for — home…
challenges still to defeat— but…
…be there soon
rob kistner © 11/18/25
You are about to witness a man, touch transcendence on a pure spiritual level — while singing out-of-body, like an absolute angel… WOW!!
This is such a dreamlike place, love the sense of longing in crossing that bridge touches my heart.
Thank you Björn. This piece is a memory from my heart… 🙂
Thank you for sharing your treasure memories, Rob. If I had lived in the place you describe so vividly, I wouldn’t want to let it go. The name, Evermore Crossing, is evocative, and I love the way you describe it in these lines made me want to breathe it in:
‘where the sky widens
where light ascends
where the wind smells of petrichor’.
You are always most welcome Kim… 🙂
Love your arched crossing, evocative and welcoming. One of those places you just gotta get to just to look down and around.
Thank you Yvonne. It exists only in my heart and soul, but my minds eye has been there. It’s the place in my fantasy where I will crossover, shedding my mortal energy for (???) — and where I will again join with my 18-year-old son Aaron, killed in an auto accident at that age in 1995… Evermore Crossing is my own personal projection of what heaven could be — although the religious based “afterlife” is not something I have ever been able to embrace. So where I will go at my death, and will I ever “see” my son Aaron agin — that answer I have created for myself is *Evermore Crossing*.
Ethereal and beautifully descriptive, Rob. I am so sorry for what you went through–you have my sincerest condolences.
🙂
This phasing really touched me:
“silent as a sigh spanning a stream of memories”.
Thank you for a thoughtful, wistful, piece to start my day.
Glad that resonated for you J… 🙂
This is gorgeously encapsulated and oh so moving, Rob ~
Thank you Sanaa, pleased that it touched you my friend… 🙂
Thank you Sanaa… 🙂
I sense a transcendence of peace and heart. Also, my condolences. Sending you a million blessings my friend.
My gratitude CZ… 🙂
I’m not going anywhere but, when I do, I’m not going anywhere. See you at the Crossing, Rob.
See you there Ron — till then… peace bros! 🙂
Rob, may all of our crossings be as you have so beautifully, eloquently described ~~~~ I’ve read your poem multiple times, saved it in my “keep forever” file folder.
Thank you so very much Helen! Well, I hope my vision of the “Crossing” resonates a some real possibility… 🙂
A beautifully reflective poem, Rob. I love the metaphor of the bridge to Evermore. A poem of surrender and fading into the future… unknown!
Thank you Dwight, I enjoy when I see you’ve visited, my friend… 😉