squinting, smiling under the bold sunshine

running over the prickly pine needles

digging my feet into the fragrant earth

under a canopy of straight, tall trees

who are guarding their wild secrets

waiting, pondering.

 

the intrigue

the earliest tales the forest wove

and kept for those with the ear to listen-

 

a child of the lake

I grin into the building wind

face the cold, rough waves fearlessly

until they pass.

 

a lonely bird sings a haunting

beautiful

melody

 I stop to acknowledge her last verse.

 

the vast sky mirrors the dreams

of the children who reach for her

of those who dance

{especially in the storm}

those who conquer mountains

and those who lead the valley to the mountains

wild, free

living for what I love

inspiring another to reach for their star{s}