Quietly Watching Life

[Atehequa]

Sitting quietly by a new stretch of stream
A short rest and time to take in the view
At a peaceful place in a time of strife
Quietly watching life
While it watches me
Onyx eyes, inlaid with gold
Slowly changing from green to grey
Down from dry lofty boughs
Lounging on a wet rock
Water smoothed almost into a egg shape
Pushed up by the rushing spring flow
Like a monolith rising out of the bank
Now nearly as grey as the rock
Secure in his camouflage
He issued a quick chirping trill
Smiling I return a softer greeting
Ever appreciative of good company
Even if he was not talking to me
A gentle late summer breeze
Delivers the scent of death
From atop a flat rock, not three paces away
A dead timber rattler leering at me
Lidless eyes that never betrayed the pain of dying
Of broken fangs and empty belly
A chosen place at which to die
I have to wonder if there was a reckoning
Between the dying viper
And the ghosts of all the life it consumed
Dead upon the rock it lies
Soon to feed the waking ants and flies
Or a nocturnal feast for a hungry raccoon
A dragonfly hovers and zips away
Following her swift flight down over the stream
My eyes fell upon an old box turtle
Mottled yellow head half submerged
Taking in a long cool draught
Raising that head from the water
There was probably a century or more of knowledge
In those blood red eyes
Seemingly regarding me with little concern
Having already keenly picked up my scent
I wondered if he ever caught scent or laid eyes
Of human kind before this morning
Ever a place to sit and dream
Watching life come and go, by a stream

[dadio]

Very good poem; enjoyed.

[saw]

pretty idyllic scene, one that we need more of.....there is nothing like the calming caress of mother nature....it's great the way you feel so small in the woods, so connected, the way your imagination runs through all of time.....you have done justice to this immense privilege.....communing with nature....if that's not a religion, it should be.......thanx for reminding me again to get to the woods.......

[Atehequa]

Well thanks, saw and dadio.

Yes, get to the woods. We should all share a good fire, camped beneath the stars, some day.

Embrace by Nature whatever her mood.
Always unpredictable and mysterious, but never does she contradict herself.
Never does she lie.