Early Morning Ramblings

I leave the house at early light

as the sun yawns her way skywards

Arising from behind the sleeping rump of Pendle

towards a cloudless pink vanilla sky

Only the stream is busy

Even the birds sing gently

as not to disturb those still slumbering

Whilst the sheep have not yet lifted their bellies

chewing their cud from sleepy posture

As I walk, my shadow shortens

and my ears and mind open

pushing away all thoughts of daily chores

Erasing the buzz of past and future

I feel velvet nuzzle my hand

searching for a treat I don't carry

I tease her with a tickle 

and she returns to her master

The uphill walk is steep

but my heart and muscles 

welcome the strain

Encouraged by the hoot of an owl

late to bed

At the start of the fell

between browning bracken and pasture

I pause

Eyes lingering on cloud patterned water

where heron stoops 

and cormorants raise their wings 

to the morning sun

Where white dots and brown blobs 

decorate the distant pastures

Back on the gravel path

my feet dance to dodge 

the delicate shells of journeying snails 

and the trails that follow them

Through fronded fen and reedy shallows

my boots now squeak on dewy grass

and slide on mossy boulder

upturning me to the earth

and muddy puddle

I cross the stream and climb a stile

to break through woodland webs

along twisty rooted paths 

beneath a shady tunnel of beech

I settle for a moment 

by a different stream

carrying the same message

And I wonder

about the wonder 

that is our world

Its miracles and majesties 

And the birds and the stream 

now fully woken

shout my thoughts back to me

delighting in my enlightenment

My feet are slower now 

and I linger often

It is at times like this

in mood like this

that my beloved reservoir 

with which I exchange 

daily greetings

frustrates me with its man-made-ness

Neither scientists nor religious men

have place in my morning walk

nor need explain this place

For Mother Nature has already 

whispered in my ear

Why is she not enough?

Have lauded men 

with suits and wealth 

never taken a walk in nature?

Where the trees whisper truth

and their ancient advisers 

beneath their roots

talk all the sense I need

Is it because we know our fate 

that we try to change the world

driven by the needs of millions of years

and the promise of a future

we will never see?

A robin crosses my path

Good luck or bad omen?

Neither

I know my worth

I am an Earthling

My race, human 

My politics, kindness

My religion, nature

I choose my own path 

and walk it with nature by my side

as my companion and confidante

As the sage of endless time instructs

sheep graze

cows chew their cud

birds make their music 

and the horse nods,

his brown eyes

deep pools of wisdom

Horse chestnut leaves are turning pale

We are at the end of summer 

and a new beginning

is creeping in

A season of bright colour

and the veil of misty mornings

As dew glistens on greening grass

I make my way down brightening lane

Heavy machinery in farmyard 

rudely interrupts my reverie

but is drowned out by the tumble of water 

As I approach the bridge

I notice a dipper in the stream

The cottage lights are glowing

You are waiting

I am home