The Forest Fastness

The sweet trill of a Northern
thrush pierces the insistent sound
of water rushing from the
mountain summit down the slopes
to thrash and tumble, spewing
white-frothed spray over the
long-since-fallen boulders below
crowding the bed of the mountain
stream. In the forest damp with
rainfall, hemlock, spruce, oak 
and maple are flush with early
spring's growth spurt. Moose
maple, dogwood and sumac
surge into growth, glistened,
brightly moistened and trundling
to maturity. Ostrich fern luxuriantly
unfurling, violets and Ladies Slippers
glow their nuanced shades of
pink on the forest floor. Swarms
of newly-hatched Mayflies briefly
screen the air. Yellow Admirals
perform their peerless aerial
arabesques. The spring woods
are alive with the sound, colour
and boundless vigor of renewal.