Oh, The Arras!

The forest, well committed to celebrating

its late spring season threw a party today.

Its environs had been well lubricated 

the forest floor welcomed an overnight

rainstorm and dawn entered humidly

overcast, a low ceiling of dark, ruffled

clouds clamped down tight. Even so

the sun managed to sneak its warmth

into the atmosphere so what more could

the landscape pine for? As a gentle breeze

murmured its leaf-rustling presence over

the forest canopy a confabulation of crows

recalling their purpose in life harassed the

great barred owl whose night-time prowls

earned it a sound day's sleep. On the

pathways easing through the forest robins

and sparrows forgot flight and scrambled

with awkward dignity in search of mineral

digestives. In the ravine below the forest

the creek still swollen with rainwater

flushes downstream where water striders

perform their speedboat antics. In the

woodland meadow, bees, butterflies and

dragonflies arabesque skillfully in gainful

manoeuvres over flowering dogwood. The

measured staccato of woodpeckers on old

pine trunks echo survival and renewal as

fungi shelve the giant masts of conifers. 'Tis

the season for woodland phlox, buttercups

thimbleberry and blackberry in flower. This

cyclical world of forest environs in session.