step into the small wood

As I walked into the small wood there was light rain
The patter of raindrops on leaves let me know
I was being sheltered, embraced by nature
protected from the elements, the foliage above an umbrella

Even though the wood is small, with the steady droplets
tapping on the green roof above my head
the hum of the near thruway with autos faded out of earshot
as the rain and occasional chiree chireee of the cardinal soaked my senses

twist and step into the small wood
the light rain will come, it knows the way
drop on leaf, bird on limb, frog on trunk
entwine with nature from which you came

feel the generosity of the cloud,
the sheltering of limb and leaf
the damp warm moss on floor
with needle, leaf, root and stone