0. this is the story of my life

that begins in black and white,

undeveloped film tape enveloped

in darkness. my life isn’t captured

in those squares — i’d rather fit the

ocean blues and cracked dirt browns.

night is dark with perfection. the sky falls

into the cover of blackness, contrasted by the

piercing whites of the moon, comets, and wishing stars.

when the day rises and rips away the black

fabric of night, colors spill into muddy waters,

shadowed animals, and blackened mountains.

1. 

hiking — the ferns caress my legs, the softness of 

the forest moss console, Nature’s bandage

wrapped tight on broken skin. bird whistles

echo in my ears and lull with kindness.

climbing — rough nuzzles of sandpaper skinned

hands intertwined in mine. no safety rope, yet the

familiar touch of rocky

hand holds guide me up

                                          up

                                                    up.

2. 

my walks with Nature are just me and her.

today, we’re met by a girl with glazed green eyes

at the summit. i can’t help it — i had to — sneak

glance after glance at those divine greens

of sequoia leaves, emerald snakes, and

malachite bird feathers. as my eyes travel

down, i see that her beautiful eyes are

accompanied with a smile; a sliver of

redness matching her hair.

“name?” Nate, i said.

Anna, she responded.

Anna. how beautiful.

3.

i’m not used to this company. what used to be

just the chirps of birds, quiet ripples on clear lakes,

and footsteps on cracked leaves turned into Anna’s

elegant language, words full of laughter. the same

glint of crimson on the whisper of her lips.

i’m not complaining.

4. 

like two finches on a tree branch, Anna and

i whistled to the tunes of the winds and

sang the songs of birds. together with Nature.

the ocean blues course through our veins,

warm yellow rays dazzle our bodies, waving

greens tint our hair, lips, hands and legs.

color playfully dances around my body. free from

the greys and showered in redness.

5. and so it ends

with Anna. she is the warmth that the earth brings,

the calmness of flowing water, and the red inside me.