Grass River Natural Area, Michigan
By Steven Wade Veatch
Calm currents glide over a sandy bottom creek bed.
Layered, like the strata of the earth, with sand silt,
By Steven Wade Veatch
Layered, like the strata of the earth, with sand silt,
and windblown dust—pulverized
from ancient grinding glaciers.
Stretches of the creek flow through a latticework
of fallen trees. Plants grow so lush they rival a rainforest.
Moisture nurtures spongy mounds of moss
that cover the ground like carpet.
Lichens paint the trees while a breeze moves their branches.
Songbirds flit in the shadows. Melodic chirps
proclaim their presence.
A sanctuary, yet everything changes—
day, night, seasons,
the climate,
you, and
from ancient grinding glaciers.
of fallen trees. Plants grow so lush they rival a rainforest.
Moisture nurtures spongy mounds of moss
that cover the ground like carpet.
Lichens paint the trees while a breeze moves their branches.
Songbirds flit in the shadows. Melodic chirps
proclaim their presence.
day, night, seasons,
the climate,
you, and
me.