Jo Rose

flickering ever so softly with each movement of the breeze.

The trees sway gently overhead, their leaves rustling a soft hymn.

The air is fresh and clean,

And you can smell the earth beneath you Fresh grass Wildflowers The warmth that lingers at the end of a summer day

you walk slowly connecting ever so deeply to every footstep and to the natural beauty around you there is an energy that hums throughout this forest an energy of comfort

a feeling of familiarity perhaps a place that your soul recognizes and remembers you continue walking further and further down the path

and soon enough the sun begins to dip below the horizon and the sky begins to transform into a masterpiece of color soft pinks melt into deep purples and rich indigos stretch across the horizon

The entire sky painted in shades so beautiful, it almost feels as though the universe itself is putting on a spectacle just for you.

And the day begins to quiet itself around you.

As you continue walking, the trees begin to open and ahead you discover a small clearing.

Nestled quietly among rolling hills sits a beautiful, untouched lake.

It rests here, perfectly still, with merely a ripple or two created by dancing dragonflies when they dip into the surface.

This lake has sat here as a hidden gem, as though it has remained here for centuries, patiently waiting for you to find it.

You walk down a small hillside towards the water, and the lake reflects the colors of the sky like a glass mirror.

Every shade mirrored perfectly upon its surface.

you find a soft patch of grass and moss a place that seems to invite you to rest and so you lie down comfortably allowing the earth to support your entire body

The evening air has cooled and the first sounds of the night begin to gently emerge.

Crickets awakening from their daytime slumber and frogs beginning their evening songs.

the forest settles into a new rhythm and as you gaze upward you watch the sky slowly begin to darken and the vibrant colors of sunset making way to something deeper, something quieter

and as if by magic you see the very first star appear a single point of light shimmering against the darkening sky like a diamond suspended among the heavens you gaze at it for a moment