Trail Hiking

Uninspired by daily routine

I hear Nature’s calling 

Hiking trails in nearby mountains 

Are waiting to quell my boredom

I gear up and go

Away from the bustling city

Tread on the dirt routes

Where four-wheelers cannot reach

In the forest air is fresh

With the scent of wilderness

From decaying leaves and twigs.

Sunlight seeps through trees

Draping ground with shadowy pattern

Creeks with clear water

Hum tunes of solitude

Birds’ singings reverberate

In the woods

Layers of beauty are found

In the rugged landscape 

Foreground tiny moss flowers

Midground rampant trees

Background distant mountains

I immerse myself in quietude 

Bathe in forest emanations

Meditate among greenwood

Occasionally I cross the path 

Of a snake or a coyote

Surprised by waterfalls, canyons, grottos

and even “the Bridge to Nowhere”

When I return back to busy life

My mind is refreshed 

Ready to tackle new challenges

By Shih-Fang Wang

From: United States