As children in the mountains
we learned to walk in the dark
on the uneven ground we knew
sometimes shadowed by starlight
or an occasional moon.
It was a wonder watching it rise
behind the far pines
as we lay on our backs
supposing excitedly about something
long since resolved,
but such a luxury to feel the hair
on familiar cedars, puzzle
over the sap of sugar pines,
fish the river for adventure
in the old days.
Time has simplified my map
to safe and basic trails
with many landmarks,
each with a story
to remind me where I am.
drycrikjournal 