On a Misty Eve a Walk
With evening chores done and a nice mellow mood brewing, I decided to go out walking. I knew full well that I could use this mellow mood to my advantage. At times like this I often can achieve many more things than when I am feeling pushed and frustrated. After quickly changing out of my jeans and shirt into yoga pants and a white spaghetti strapped tank top, I laced my shoes and grabbed a zip up sweatshirt before I ran out the door. I was a bit surprised by the light drizzle as I stepped out, but decided that this mist was nothing that should keep me in. No matter, I was not dressed for the weather but I will hardly melt, so out the gate and down the street I went.
Walking quickly for this was not intended to be a leisurely stroll, I headed down towards the schools. The paved path through the wooded area was so well lit that it had a surreal quality about it and that is where you joined my on my walk. Together we walked in silence as large drops of rain gathered on the leaves. We passed the locked school, the district is still closed tomorrow. As we started to pass the play yard I glanced at you with a mischievous smile on my face before I dash away from you towards the swingsets. You stood at the road just watching me until I leaned playfully on the swing and coaxed you to follow me. Paying no heed to the damp seat I wanted to swing. Would you push me while I laughed with delight, feeling carefree and foolish? Would you allow me to sit on your lap, my legs through the swing facing you, hanging on to the chains as I straddled your waist, spider swinging as children do so that two may swing as one? Marvelous moments in which we laughed as only lovers do minding not the misty dampness of the night. Finally it is decided enough play for this walk is not over, there is more to explore.
Past the schools the street lamps are not on and darkness closes in as we walk. From the road there is a paved running path which curves gently around the woods and rolls up and down over the gentle swells of the earth. Here it is very dark with the shadow of trees along the path and our footsteps on the asphalt being the only things keeping us on track. On we walk in our adventure. Despite the mist and the coolness of this fall night, the pace of our walk is making me warm so without stopping, I took off my sweatshirt and tied it around my waist. Feeling the muscles in my calves and thighs working felt marvelous and I realized how much I have neglected exercise in the last few months, how much I miss my yoga and pilates. The mist gradually turned into a light rain, making my damp tank top cling to me and a dew gather on my exposed shoulders and upper back and chest. Are those your eyes I feel on me, straining in the dark to see what can only barely be made out? Curiousity? Longing? Together we walked with few words spoken but much said. The only things in the world were this path through the dark woods, the sounds of night crickets and raindrops, the sweet earthy smell of autumn decay and us walking along.
Before I knew it we had reached the small wooden bridge which crosses the lazily moving stream. With each step on the wooden planks I realized that I heard only one pair of footsteps, my own. As mysteriously as you had appeared beside me you had vanished. Alone and suddenly lonely on the dark path I grew uneasy and wondered about the bravery or was it foolishness that had brought me to walk such as this. Faster I walked, thinking how foolhardy of me to walk alone on a remote path through a wooded area. Suddenly I heard a branch break in the woods off to my right and for a moment my heart stopped. I listened intently for any sounds of danger and moments later thought that I heard footsteps behind me. Shaking my head, I thought to myself, "your mind is playing tricks on you. That noise was nothing more than a branch breaking due to the heaviness of water or perhaps a playful squirrel....or could it be the outlaw of Hartlip Hill?" Ha! With that enjoyable thought I finished my walk daydreaming back on the time we had spent together on this dark, damp night.
Walking quickly for this was not intended to be a leisurely stroll, I headed down towards the schools. The paved path through the wooded area was so well lit that it had a surreal quality about it and that is where you joined my on my walk. Together we walked in silence as large drops of rain gathered on the leaves. We passed the locked school, the district is still closed tomorrow. As we started to pass the play yard I glanced at you with a mischievous smile on my face before I dash away from you towards the swingsets. You stood at the road just watching me until I leaned playfully on the swing and coaxed you to follow me. Paying no heed to the damp seat I wanted to swing. Would you push me while I laughed with delight, feeling carefree and foolish? Would you allow me to sit on your lap, my legs through the swing facing you, hanging on to the chains as I straddled your waist, spider swinging as children do so that two may swing as one? Marvelous moments in which we laughed as only lovers do minding not the misty dampness of the night. Finally it is decided enough play for this walk is not over, there is more to explore.
Past the schools the street lamps are not on and darkness closes in as we walk. From the road there is a paved running path which curves gently around the woods and rolls up and down over the gentle swells of the earth. Here it is very dark with the shadow of trees along the path and our footsteps on the asphalt being the only things keeping us on track. On we walk in our adventure. Despite the mist and the coolness of this fall night, the pace of our walk is making me warm so without stopping, I took off my sweatshirt and tied it around my waist. Feeling the muscles in my calves and thighs working felt marvelous and I realized how much I have neglected exercise in the last few months, how much I miss my yoga and pilates. The mist gradually turned into a light rain, making my damp tank top cling to me and a dew gather on my exposed shoulders and upper back and chest. Are those your eyes I feel on me, straining in the dark to see what can only barely be made out? Curiousity? Longing? Together we walked with few words spoken but much said. The only things in the world were this path through the dark woods, the sounds of night crickets and raindrops, the sweet earthy smell of autumn decay and us walking along.
Before I knew it we had reached the small wooden bridge which crosses the lazily moving stream. With each step on the wooden planks I realized that I heard only one pair of footsteps, my own. As mysteriously as you had appeared beside me you had vanished. Alone and suddenly lonely on the dark path I grew uneasy and wondered about the bravery or was it foolishness that had brought me to walk such as this. Faster I walked, thinking how foolhardy of me to walk alone on a remote path through a wooded area. Suddenly I heard a branch break in the woods off to my right and for a moment my heart stopped. I listened intently for any sounds of danger and moments later thought that I heard footsteps behind me. Shaking my head, I thought to myself, "your mind is playing tricks on you. That noise was nothing more than a branch breaking due to the heaviness of water or perhaps a playful squirrel....or could it be the outlaw of Hartlip Hill?" Ha! With that enjoyable thought I finished my walk daydreaming back on the time we had spent together on this dark, damp night.
posted by Erika at
10:53 PM
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