Drop my kids off at nature class
and take myself on a date
a solo walk in the woods
Forget a map to guide my way
no service to look it up
I briefly panic
What if I get lost?
Sunlight glimmers through dense treetops
urging me to keep going
not to be afraid
I’ve been on these trails before
keep turning left and eventually
end up where you started
I think.
Wandering along the trail
I come upon an old stone bridge
smiling at my reflection in the water below
A honking goose swims my way
angry that I dare cross his path
he flies at me, long black neck a sword
I run away afraid.
Gnarled tree roots await
seven worn steps beckoning
me to climb up a steep hill
Greeted at the top by forceful hammering
of a red-bellied woodpecker
hunting for bugs in an old decaying tree
I perch upon an old worn bench
A cool wind blows upon my face
brown and withered birch leaves dance
their final frolic until the new are ready to burst with life
A nuthatch hops down an old tree trunk
Landing at my feet
Looking up as if to ask
Why did you forget to bring seed?
My old friend
chickadee lands on the bench
“Hello!” he chirps
“Why don’t you sit a while and simply breathe?”
This post is part of The Darling Files, a project initiated by my friends Rachel Nevergall and Callie Feyen. You can read more about The Darling Files from Rachel here and from Callie here.
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