Living With Nature

In the narrow space of a roomful
of earlier thoughts weariness
pervaded our consciousness for
we had, as the ancients would say,
laboured mightily. Persisting, we
chose the day's invitation to break
from tedious, endless tasks to
set out into the beckoning woodland.

There, the only human construct
was the paths we had worn ambling
through the gathered snow. The sky
sealed the afternoon in a pale blue
ceiling where the fixture of the sun
was turned full on, gently warming
the living room surrounding us with
its incandescent, blazing light.

We paused on the crest of a hill
to look back and survey the bare
branched trees limned against the
blue and surrounding white. Serenity
engulfed us, draining our fatigue,
replacing it with peaceful gratitude,
appreciation of living with nature.