Left Behind in the Woods

Tread gently on the paths of early spring
When light is soft and the leaves are fresh,
Bursting out of the rest of winter,
Covering the woodland with the shades of day
That lift the heart when a burden's shed,
Or merely shared in the dialogue of prayer,
Transporting the soul to the heights of heaven,
Well above yesterday's unwanted cares;
Until summer comes with its blaze of heat,
Foliage strengthened with photosynthetic energy
Stored up for autumn, when clouds gather
And the leaves fall again, shrouding the earth,
Covering what we left behind today,
But never to bury the memory of now.

Chislehurst Common

May 2016