The Mountain Stream

The mountain stream, cold and

crystal clear tumbles and thrashes

its furious way over tumbled

granite boulders glistening in

the afternoon sun, foaming and 

thundering its tumultuous passage

from mountain side to forest brook

filling the air with its raucous descent.  

The red and black streaked corridor 

of rockface contains its passage, mist 

rising and gently spewing over the

landscape of birch and beech, oak

and hemlock.  the forest understory

of dogwood and pine saplings

absorb the spray, bedecked with mosses 

and lichens glowing moistly green.  

Bracken and wildflowers stipple the 

green with bright floral colour like 

the stars in a dark night sky.  Thrushes 

burst in lilting praise, butterflies vie 

with dragonflies to own best record for 

aerial arabesques.  The brook conducts 

its aquatic orchestral symphony with

drama and life-affirming grace.