Stillness in the Wild

A wild forest slowly stirs -
birdsong and animal calls
stretch into the blanket of mist,
unwrapping the brown-green hearth;
you can hear a ripe leaf
float down to rest
on the moist, undisturbed floor
holding up all with love;
you can hear the old Mahua tree
breathe into the cold, wet air;
twisted, broken branches
stand poised to fall with grace,
in their own time;
yellow-brown leaves, past their prime,
lay strewn across the muddy floor,
whispering secrets to unhurried travellers,
holding countless, untold tales of yore;
a warm, soul-stirring stillness rules
in the quiet, dew-drenched wilderness;
a silent respect for all that is,
born from coming home to the wild.