Plodding a summer hardwood hollow
with sweat-drenched brow and aching knee
any trail's too dim to follow
in midst of dense humidity

In claustrophobic world of green
enclosed by solid canopy of leaves
barely stirred by breeze unseen
the only wind a mere faint tease

A cloud of gnats all seek my eyes
kindred mosquitos want my blood
and there's a tic, no great suprise
I'm lost in an insectile flood

Even a stump where I might rest
is actually a fire ant home
and deer flies bite my back and chest
when they can't reach my sweaty dome

It's even worse in sunny dell
where sun burns skin and blinds my eyes
and feels like a foretaste of hell
masked in sweltering southern guise

And even yet I plod along
as woods seem to draw much closer in
I ignore the birds and lilting song
determination's wearing thin

What a fool I surely am
trekking these woods in stifling heat
I step into stumphole, damn!
a broken leg would be a treat

At last first hint of final goal
a hint of cool mist on my face
from a small but robust shoal
along a tiny brook's steep trace

The growth gives way to sandy bank
surrounding a small clear cold pool
being sweaty, smelly.....rank
I splash right in like an old fool

And lie in there just for a while
then exit and doff all but shorts
hang clothes on branches, sit and smile
no longer feeling out of sorts

A spot of sun a a stone cleft
feels good now as I slowly dry
enjoying what Time I have left
beside this Eden 'neath blue sky

I nearly doze off, but not quite
while watching highest limb tips sway
then I dress and stand upright
My truck still sits a mile away