Cinnamon scent of leaf litter,

Rustling golden-dry grass of fall,

Out on the marsh,

Mother Mallard remonstrates,

Urgently schooling her late brood.

The hunting heron

Pauses in thought,

Listening in on

The secret whisperings of the wind,

Chattering nonsense in the treetops.

Rain-freshened cedars sweeten the air,

Silver drops pearling on pine needles,

Like Christmas baubles,

Glistening in the watery sunlight.

Heartbeat footfall rhythm.

Light flickers through the trees.

Feet skip over streaks of sun and shade

Splashed across the road.

Impact.

Transfer.

Flight.

Repeat.

Two strides in

The body knows

And responds.

Impact.

Transfer.

Flight.

Repeat.

Singular moment

Of elevation,

Weightlessness,

Gravity,

Already the next reach begins.

Breathing transcendent.

The world fills my lungs

With sweetness and life,

Then leaves me again.

Borrowed then returned.

Constant give and take.

Briefly, the cold air of winter

Reveals the process

In puffs of white vapour.

I am alone

But never lonely.

My shadow always runs

Half a stride ahead.

Subconscious romps along,

Nimbly leaping, loping free,

Skittering snippets,

Bridging seamlessly, randomly,

One thought to the next,

Ideas, memories, preoccupations.

Digest bad news,

Process disappointments,

Spin plans from hopes and dreams,

Confront fears.

The lime green hues of early spring,

Garland the skeletal forest.

Singsong chords of an impromptu torrent,

Cascading down the rock face,

After the rain.

Furtive crashing in the birches;

Unseen forest creature startles at the intrusion.

Crow on the road ahead

Hops begrudgingly away

From its spoils,

Flutters to a high branch,

Cawing displeasure

At the interruption.

Angry redwing patriarchs,

Swooping boldly,

Piping cries of fury,

Giving chase,

Until the territory of the unseen nest

Is again safe

From the threat

That I do not present.

The utter stillness of a misty winter morning,

Black and white photograph,

Holding its breath,

Waiting, calling,

Listen closely:

Hear the snowflakes fall.

Is that another runner up ahead?

Shall I try to catch them?

Surge.