in a place 

where there are millions of trees

leaves create a temporary barrier

palm leaves brush past you while moving forward 

doesn’t matter the pace 

slow or moving fast through greenery

the air is thick with dew

and distant birds

animals calls echo

reverberating off the stems 

shaking

moving through 

underneath a canopy of light unseen

glimpses of rays peer down

but the forest floor can’t be found

damp steps 

feet sink into soft earth

and it could be this forest goes on forever 

always bending leaves back to part a way

sneak through the sharp edges

avoid scratches

or the potential stumble on a hidden rock 

pebble

branch

on the ground i can lie flat 

inching forward on fingertips

but the heaviness keeps me down longer than i want to be

even in a beautiful forest

moving with swiftness

moving with alacrity 

looseness 

is better than the vulnerability of staying in place

and the raindrops that fall to ground sink instantly 

or hang off the edges 

splashed onto the sides 

on my arms as i walk

hanging as if to drop when i stop to notice

one thing remains true

the relief of the deepness in the air in this forest

feels unlike anything else

and so i consider that for quite a while longer than one may need 

to truly understand