Jessica L. Morris

Soupy was the air
as I followed 
the late afternoon
birdsong of summer –  

I can’t wait to hear the crickets! 

This thought exclaimed in my mind 
brought a smile
at first
and then a sigh – 

Oh, how often I miss the moment I’m in! 

So, 
I veered off the pavement 
– which I NEVER do – 
and into the edge of the wood.

I tried to be still 
to soak in the life of the trees. 

But the gnats!

Those pesky gnats
nipped away 
immediately 
at my face
and I swear
they wasted no time
making gnat nests in my hair. 

Noticing the rain puddle nearby
I remembered
my fifth-grade teacher, the nature lover, once said:
“Those stinkers love still water.”

So, 
I moved away 
further into the trees
where it felt like I could 
breathe in the deep green 
of their leaves.

And, 
as I looked up in gratitude 
I saw her there – 

between all the brush 
and 
those deep green leaves 
at the top of the hill
was she
staring down at me
orange and radiant
beneath the trees – 

silently aware 
and 
stunningly patient 
watching and waiting 
for me 

to notice
to breathe
to be

for just one moment 

with her

that lovely little fox 
and
me.