Walk With Me

Take A Walk With Me

Walk with me, slowly, as we explore my little world, my little place of apple trees and cool grass and big shade trees.  Look at this leaf here, how it caresses a sleeping caterpillar awaiting its awakening into a beautiful, fuzzy night moth.  Touch this apple, green and smooth, not very large, and without perfect shape but somehow still having such beauty to my eyes. Someday soon, this little patch of red on its skin will envelop the whole fruit, and it will be ripe and sweet-sour to the taste. No, I cannot wait.

Come here, hold my hand, as we walk through the hay field. Take off your shoes, as I do mine, and we can feel the young, sweet alfalfa slip between our toes.  Here, look down here at the spent nest of the killdeer birds that have fledged their babes already, but shout at us nonetheless for disturbing their peaceful haven.   See this little tree struggling to stand tall above the thick, consuming, wild grasses in this hedge row?  I planted this one, and so many more, that first cold spring I came to this place.  This one, this little maple tree is the only one that survived so I visit it often and touch its little leaves and speak to it, so it might grow big one day.

Follow me, love, to the far end of the pasture where, if we go through that gate, that rickety-make-shift passage, and if we walk slowly and calmly, the sheep will come to us.  Don't be afraid, yes, I see they are now running hard at us, but, don't be alarmed they will slow as they arrive.  This one, here, this big white one, his name is Bruce.  He is a character, almost like a puppy dog, he wants his head scratched.  The others all seem to follow him and trust in his leadership.   There, behind that brown one over there, there is the littlest lamb, the last born of the year, isn't she cute!

Oh yes, of course you can put your arm around me while we stand here in late afternoon, the sun feeling warm upon our faces, the sky such a rich shade of blue, and the clouds so puffy white they make me feel like I, too, can float.  Yes, please do, please wrap your arms around me, here among these sheep, in this green green pasture, here in my little world. Yes I know, they are moving away. They find us a bit boring, I suspect, they are curious animals but with a short attention span, you see.   Let them go off to graze on the hill where the sun will make them look like silhouettes.

Should I show you the barn?  It's a fun place to explore. You must be very careful because it is quite old, and in disrepair, and the floor boards here in the mow are rotting away.  This hay is from last year, do you want to climb way up there, to the top of the stack?  All right, let's do then, you first, I will follow.  Be careful, I said, don't be so fearless!  Hey, I saw that smirk, and the way you just rolled your eyes at me!  Okay, I am coming, here take my hand, help me up the last little bit. Gosh, I like it up here.  Yes, let's sit, legs hanging over the stacks, swinging.  You don't mind that I lean into you, that I lay my head on your shoulder, up here in this old barn, do you?  I didn't think so, you make me smile so.

Oh, there, can you see?  There are the kestrels!  They come back each year and raise their young way up here in the rafters of this old barn.   I love how they soar, yes, I think that is the female.  I have watched them catch sparrows on the fly, they are quite remarkable.  What's that?  Oh, wow, I love you too.  I love you like I love the rain and the sun and this very special place.  And, I am not sure why, but I just know I will love you forever.

copyright 1997