At the Crossroads-
Suspended a moment in time-
Pathway as wide as my gait
Ribboning outward, forward
With no sight beyond the gap;
Silence creates a buzz in my ears
Too loud, too quiet
At the crossroads.

Always planning ahead
But taking the jump unknown
Never knowable
And hoping to land safe-
The buzz, the adventure-
All the dreams dissipate
In the clarity of the bird singing
In cold mountain air on my legs
In rocks and pine under my feet.
This solidness, these trees, these rocks,
I am here, not there-
Here.
In the only here I have.
One moment after another.
The mountain says this without words.

Children, quiet, still, listening,
just a wisp of wind licking at us
Benign sun warming the clover-
Early Summer-
Wakening to light, warmth, vigor, power-
The wild green energy rushing up from the roots-
Through their young bodies,
Forcing growth, stretching limbs,
Changing voices, ambitions, goals,
Skin, feet, breasts, brains.
The baby lotus unfolding with the brilliance of the Kore,
The young God,the Stag.

Here, a clearing between unknown lands-
At the cusp of mountains
At the Crossroads.