Previously Published in Decades Review . . .

The Loop

Maze of wooded trail, wrapping

interest into the middle of nowhere,

we explored like children, (re)discovering

the joys of bike riding and random turtle

crossings.  Played hide-n-seek

behind the 100-year-old tree

whose name I cannot remember even after reading

the historical plaque at its base, eroded, irrelevant.

More important the arching branches, stretching

in bowed bounce, touching ground before returning

to the sky.  Here we climbed, swung, jumped,

before retreating to blanket spread miles above

roots.  Fell

asleep in the warmth of the shaded sun

and each other's arms.