Katy Trail Hike: A Poem

Morning on the Katy Trail

by Lisa Shafter

Early morning forest, hung

with tattered streaks of sunlight, strung

with spiders’ silver labyrinths, sung

with crickets and the sigh of trees.

Ragged cliffs of limestone, splitting

by a maple’s patience, sitting

perched above the river, knitting

stories of forgotten seas.

Scattered leaves like parchment, sown

by husky summer breezes, known

by centipedes and lizards, grown

by tangled treetops’ leafy manes.

Tangled nighttime shadows, fading

in the rebirthed sunlight, trading

auburn-gold for emerald, wading

nearer to sweet autumn’s reign.

Early morning forest, shine,

This waking summer day is mine.