Out walking in the Forest on my own
remaining small and watchful as I stroll
in case a fallow deer I hope to see
should run instead of waiting there for me.
A small adventure time has always been
to slip between the fronds and furls unseen
much closer than the straight prescription trail
would take me should my panicking prevail.
Within the darkness and the damp, I creep
around the streams of leaning light that seep
feel guilty as I hear the swish and crunch
of cellulose and forest’s underbrush
The trees become a curtain that surrounds
drawn tighter as I hurdle ‘cross the ground
warped with branches threatening to hook
my feet and stitch me up if I don’t look.
Aware of mining hollows down below
the impact on the climate now on show
so thankful that they voted not to frack
the earth could do without that new attack.
I stumble as across the verge I hop
emerging bleached in sunlight I must stop
collect the anxious cares I left betrayed
amazed at how I ever felt afraid.
Although of course I did not see a deer
I’m glad I went out searching for one here
this place I used to call my home back then
this place I know will welcome me again.
