GREEN AIR

A breathy forest carpet

of undergrowth and fallen limbs,

and an occasional tree across my path,

lies there soft and fungal,

a place to rest and look around

or close my eyes to listen.

I’m an intruder, an invader,

and have stilled the movements

of birds and small rodents so,

unless the wind sighs one dry

branch into another

to rustle the leaves,

I’m pretty much alone.

I like the quiet.

But I pick myself up

and crash along

breaking twigs and branches

with every step

and bring calamity to

whole civilizations

of little creatures.

I wonder what their media

and governments have to say

about the trampled villages

and collapsed tunnels?

I read somewhere that

every earthquake footfall

crushes eleven spiders

and no telling who else.

What other microcosms

of no consequence to me

are left in smoking ruins,

the inhabitants flying in panic?

A small brook of clear water

makes its lazy way to lower ground,

so I look for an outcrop in the cool

damp to sit again,

remove my shoes,

and wash my feet

just to get away from it all.

Reviews

[ETERNITY]

Hi Vol, I love these moments of your life. The carpets of grass I can clearly see the fungal patches along fallen trees dead branches and I've never thought of the civilizations disrupted as I've clumped through the woods.
Lastly, do you think about the universes of micro organisms you wipe out when you dip your foot or anything else in the stream or creek? God makes all these things to work together for our good.
Oh m' gosh when penicillin was discovered, can you imagine the horror and relief? And cynicism? And disbelief? Would you have Vol -unteered to be injected? See what I did there?

[Vol]

And not only that, I spent most of my life in the Vol..unteer state.

[Betty Hermelee]

Dear Vol...what a fine scene you've created in this forest....Before you step in....not a stir...then as you walk on the earth's carpet, everything begins to move, jump, fly, crackle, scream, run......your vivid words show us a life many of us are not familiar with deep the cluttered bush...your curiosity about creatures and other microcosms is fascinating obviously to you as well as the reader...thank you my friend, for sharing!
Warmly, B