Pinecones

I went to the forest

To gather some words

To bring home

Like the children do

The dried pinecones

To cover in glitter.

Above me the dark green canopy 

Was a kaleidoscope - 

Shifting triangles of white light

With each movement.

Underneath, the pale brown leaves

Were peppered with acorns 

And secret signs of buried treasure 

Only the squirrels know.

The stream was excited 

Because it rained last night

And I, because more movement 

Means more dancing of the light

On surface of the water,

That I watched from the bank 

Made of rocks and roots -

And the face of a rat, 

Now and then.

I walked back to the tree trunks

Where I did find plenty of pinecones,

But these were the words I put in my pockets to pull out again

And cover in glitter.

Copyright LJ 2020.