It was wet walking Shadow today

but that’s all right we enjoy rain.

All the leaves were dripping

and the trees, every now and then,

shook their thick coats,

like wet dogs do, we laughed.

I glanced up through the trees

and the clouds, grey and sullen,

glared at me through branches.

Were they up or were we?

Who knows?

every one on Earth thinks

that they are up; Umm!

 

I glanced down at a tree’s base.

Finger roots spread out, a basket

of hands clutched at the earth,

over and under like a huge mat.

All the trees were doing

the same thing, curious!

Then a tree creaked at me.

“ We are holding on.”

“To what, I asked?”

“ To the world, you fool,

If we don’t hold on we

may fall into the sky!”

 

“What about me then

and Shadow as well?”

“You don’t matter much,

in fact we could well do

without you lot,

messing up our world!”

 

Perception is a wondrous thing!

 
 
David Garlick, North Saanich, September, 2009