My thoughts

I can think of no greater pleasure than sitting aside a campfire on a cool morning in some remote mountain campsite awaiting the birthing of a new day.

I sit in wonder of the waning night as the newly arriving dawn urges away the shadows and yet creates them anew.

With the coming of dawn go the fears of the night. Unwarranted yes, but there just the same, something we inherited from the old ones who lived so long ago. Mayhap it is our eyesight which is so inadequate in the night. Yes, that could be the root of our forboding of the gloom. I do not profess to know. I only know that for most it is there and should not be given into.

Even the birds share the fear for there are so few out at night. Or perhaps they just know when to sleep?

These are my thoughts as I sit by the fire, these, and, many others.

I see the deer come to the yonder side of the river, hesitate only for a moment, then cross to my side of the water. They walk through camp as if the fire and I are not there, paying no heed whatsoever. And they say animals fear fire. I do not think so.

These are my thoughts. These, and, many others.

The morning clouds, moving ever so fast. Could it be they flee the coming heat of the day? Or might it just be the high flying wind pushing them along, at the moment incredibly fast? My but they are in a hurry.

These and many others are my thoughts as I sit and gaze, alternately at the fire and then the forest, and then the sky. Oh, I think of many things in the quiet morning, the silence broken only by the crackling of the fire, the distant rush of the river, the occasional chirp of bird, the chatter of the waking squirrel, leading me to understand it is his forest, that I am only a visitor. At times I think of nothing at all. My mind is as vacant as the vacuum of space. But not now. Now I am thinking of the chattering squirrel.

I think, “Squirrel, it is your forest. I understand that it may only be borrowed. For such a short time will I be here, I beg for the loan of your domain. I will be here for only a moment and shall be gone, so please bear with me and allow my thoughts to continue. You see I need this time, this woefully short interval of existance in your forest. I need it to restore my sensibilities, keep my sanity and replenish my soul.”

These and many others are my thoughts as I am witness to another forest day beginning anew. I wish I had more time. Oh, how I wish I had more time.

These are my thoughts. These and many others.