away from the beach and the setting sun

away from the sound of waves and the waving grass

away from the distant mountains glowing red with the last light of day

away from the canopy of rustling trees with jasmine scented air traveling through their branches

away from the trickling river that ebbed and flowed and roared around bends and wet boulders and whirling pools

there 

hidden among the forest, which grew ever deeper

there

it drifted through the pine needles

and as if hinting towards its direction

moved up into the tops of the trees where nests lay secure from lurking eyes

a trail of a small cloud that whispered and bent out of view

perfumed smoke

incense

wafting through the forest 

from somewhere and someone who lit it and in that moment

a smile was illuminated