BRANCHES WITH GREEN LEAVES
My seven year old grandson
believes it's important work
to help repair trails I've built
through rock-strewn
mountain property, even
asking if we can build new
ones to new places...and
he believes me when I tell
him to hang onto branches
with green leaves when
he edges down a steep bank
to the stream, and his eyes
grow big when I tell him
about the bones I found in
the hollow where deer come
down to drink, and when
the trail back to the house
gets steep, he puts his hand
in mine and I know I'm
safe for a little while.
for Sam
