Until now

i walk along in my faded sweatpants 

slender trees along the river framing 

clear water rushing downstream

beside the long abandoned farm mill

a blanket of solitude, thick and blue

wrapped my cold shoulders this morning

i thought i heard your footsteps

follow my trail towards the thick forest

glades we love to get lost and camped, 

just the two of us, don't you remember?

but no, it was just the hoot of birds

and swish tail of the frightened deer

your footprints were long covered

by mulch of shrivelled maple leaves, 

fallen apples pecked by black crows,  

mud of travellers searching for solace,

answers among the whispering winds,

wild flowers, black bats kneeling in prayer  

still, i take these early morning walks

autumn has arrived, but until now,  

i don't understand why you left 

without saying 

goodbye 

Posted for The Gooseberry Garden:   Poetry Picnic Week 10: Nature, Forest, Rivers, and Mountains

Shared with Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - OpenLinkNight Monday


picture credit:   http://zombiebrainfortea.tumblr.com/