I walk through tall trees,
green lichen covers the rocks
and I place my feet
one step at a time
upon this old and glorious earth.
Rock stairs and craggy paths
lead me towards the top of the world
where fields and mountains
lay below me--a quilt of green
and the distant range so blue
it looks like waves of water.
It looks unreal.
The wind at the top blows
my hair into spirals
spinning around my head.
I stand on a rock and
gaze toward the landscape
feeling the ancient hills
breathing the rhythm of the world.
Feeling the definition of the Hand of God
Pine trees all around me now
and an army of scrub brush
I find the fabled AT trail.
I feel like I'm with a celebrity
walking this famous path.
I climb another hill and hear the rumble of thunder
And watch a dark plume of storm cloud burst from the next peak.
I stop and lay down on the grass,
putting my hands upon the ground
and send up a thank you to the sky
Hiking past waterfalls and rock-strewn paths
I see the wild ponies grazing.
A pregnant mare, a sweet foal and beautiful stallions calmly pluck grass ignoring our excited photo taking.
And when my adventure is done
I return to my friends
Who shared this with me
And my soul healing knows no bounds
Heather Lake
Upon visiting the mountains of Virginia
