I came to the conclusion
while walking today
that the amount of effortlessly formed words
is directly linked
to the amount of time
spent under tall trees
allowing their safe branches to shelter me
I discovered
the desire to create
is fueled by the smells of green and growth
and staying indoors
is synonymous with
staying in my head
all locked up with man-made objects
nothing to provoke wonder
not like wandering
going
moving one foot in front of the other
down the block
or across the world
maybe it’s nature
returning to my roots
a scared child who found
freedom in the woods
maybe it’s the unfamiliar
fighting its way into the mundane
parts of my day
and maybe
it’s the need to be part of something more
than my tiny life
my several decades
my decisions and doubts
my dreams and desires
my panic that rises lately when I think
of all of this being over so fast
it’s why we conceive children
and build towers
why we write books we hope will last
It’s why we watch sunrises over mountains
and start causes to rescue the world
it’s why we live in communities
and go to football games and concerts
it’s why we get lost in throngs of people
and sit solitary facing crashing waves
it’s why we fall in love
we have to know
this reality isn’t just
reality
we have to know
what the trees know
we are part of an expansive, connected, beautiful universe
no life is separate
and so I suppose
my final
simple
conclusion is this:
to be happy
to be at peace
to live creatively
I must
get out of my house
get out of my head
and live
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