Walking

I love
the sense
of freedom and quiet
the sights
sounds
and smells
that I experience on
an early morning walk

Rabbits
silently lope
from spot to spot
in search of breakfast
an old dog
greets us from well within
his castle gates

Occasionally
someone else is also
up and walking
usually (like me) with a dog
mostly
we just nod
and continue
on our way

Birds chatter
disconnectedly
about their plans
for the day
a waking heron
startles us
with its odd
discordant squawk
as we round a corner

I notice flowers
and plants
that I didn’t
the day before

Oddly enough
even the beginnings
of distant morning traffic
weave unobtrusively
through the patterns of my walks.

– a good start to a most uncertain day.