Hidden lake
Once or twice in a lifetime, if we’re lucky, we stumble upon a hidden lake. A lake we’ve never seen before; a lake we never dreamed existed.
Other people may know about this blue-treasured lake, but until this magic moment we remained innocent of its beauty.
Damselfly
Perhaps the blue of a damselfly will lead you along a forest path to surprise you with the serenity of the hidden lake. Perhaps you’ll emerge from a meander in swamp-lands to suddenly gasp at the jeweled surface of the shining blue. You never know how you’ll find it. You’ll only know it’s a gift reflected in still waters.
Underwater secrets
The secrets it carries underwater whisper beneath the azure sky. Gently a fat golden fish flutters by near your outstretched fingers. Frogs croak love song melodies near the banks. A dragonfly settles nearby, drying its many wings before bursting upward in flight.
Basking dragonfly
The lake lay placidly here all along, all these long years, when perhaps you’ve passed within singing distance unconscious of its lapping waves. How many more treasures exist so close to us, so very close, and yet we never swim in their coves, never dangle our feet in their waters, never glimpse the eagles diving and careening from the skies above?
Wild rose
The wild rose nods toward the hidden destination. She, for one, hints with her heady summer scent.
“May you find your hidden lake,” she murmurs and we listen silent to the loons calling in the waterlily of our heart. We’re so close. Just around the bend, she waits.
13 comments
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July 15, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Gerry
There is a hidden fishing lake, up in the far reaches of Wabakimi, that has become the stuff of myth. There is another not far from Kalkaska that I found once and have never been able to find again. Sometimes I wonder where I <e.was that day . . .
July 15, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Gerry
Um, typo in the comment . . .
July 16, 2009 at 1:14 am
sahlah
Just popping by to say hello. I missed your blog. I hope to catch up this weekend. I love the rose… Nice new header too.
July 16, 2009 at 7:45 am
flandrumhill
I’ve never found a hidden lake. I was pretty excited when I discovered the bog behind my home. It has some open water areas. Pure magic
The blue of these dragonflies is pretty but they’ve always creeped me out. (And I’m not easily creeped out by nature’s creatures).
You’re right that we’re so close to so many treasures. You never know what’s waiting to be discovered just around the bend.
July 16, 2009 at 10:38 am
centria
The first hidden lake I ever saw was in Antrim County back during teenage years. Our dad took us to it…and it was so magical just because you never imagined it was there. Discovering one has the feeling of a dream, doesn’t it? And sometimes you really can’t find it again.
The one I stumbled upon was down behind the Pow Wow grounds. Have extensively explored the other two lakes back there (and once probably sat rather near) but never knew about this one. Cindy had made a comment about the boardwalk and lake recently…which led to some investigation…and WOW! There really is another lake.
Oh, Dawn, it’s a delight to see you. Hope you’ve had a fun summer thus far. Will have to scamper over to your blog & see if you’ve posted yet.
Amy, bog….lake…I think the bog counts! It’s the hidden part of it that provides the magic. Really? You’re creeped out by the blue? How very interesting! Why? Do you know why? I think they’re majestic. Or something. Maybe majestic is the wrong word. As for treasures…every step has them, I think. It’s a matter of truly being present and looking.
July 16, 2009 at 1:21 pm
flandrumhill
Kathy, I think the blue is the only thing about them that doesn’t creep me out. One of my neighbors has a large wire one affixed to her house and another friend uses a red dragonfly as the logo for his business, so I know that most people are attracted to them. Maybe I just have to look at them more closely.
July 16, 2009 at 7:45 pm
allielujah
Wow, that first shot is so breathtaking I had to come leave a comment before reading the actual entry. Seriously, I’ve just been looking at it for the past few minutes, wanting to make myself appear inside it a’la Dick van Dyke.
And, might I also add, this is beautifully written.
July 17, 2009 at 12:58 pm
centria
Allie, it WAS breathtaking. My mom called yesterday afternoon wanting to know, “where’s the hidden lake?” And, strangely enough, it didn’t feel like I wrote it. You ever have that feeling? Where you’re just watching the words flow out and trying to write them down?
July 18, 2009 at 4:01 pm
allielujah
Yes I have had that feeling, actually. It’s been a while, sadly, but I used to get it quite often. It’s so interesting to read something years later (or days, weeks, some form of time) and just wonder what kind of state of mind you were in. I still have some of my entries from times like that; I like re-reading them from time to time.
November 21, 2009 at 7:59 pm
One month ’til the outdoor commitment ends « Opening the door, walking outside
[...] On the way there I asked, “Would you like to see the hidden lake I discovered earlier this year?” Yes, he would like. It’s behind the Pow Wow grounds. You can read about the magical day of discovering the hidden lake here. [...]
June 6, 2010 at 7:48 am
Dare to walk where you have never walked before. « Lake Superior Spirit
[...] ahhhhed over the possibility of something being hidden in a landscape one think one knows. Click here to read of this first discovery. Took Barry back there in November to show him the secret [...]
July 15, 2011 at 8:51 am
Elisa's Spot
My inner lake either got lost or simply was its own quiet self place so much that everything else has been overrunning it! Thank you for reminder! E is off to Quebec today. Z is going to Dads. K says to ignore her and have me time. Maybe I can swim in the lake?!
January 9, 2013 at 2:34 pm
phillip
Indeed that water is almost always cold! Duluth is a wonderful place to visit and has much to offer for the entire family.