Spring Break

Birdsong erupts from a golden flannelbush
as I step outdoors into sunshine, head for the trailhead.

A pair of does lift their tan muzzles from grazing,
watch my every movement as I trudge slowly uphill.

A chunky red squirrel chirps and scolds,
skitters to the nearest pine, disappears among needles.

Somewhere, a skunk has been surprised,
leaves his heavy stench in the still morning air.

It’s Tuesday and I’m a vacationing fool, happy and
completely out of sync with the rest of the world.