Paul crouched by the cold mountain spring.
Ice skirted the stones surrounding it.
He felt solitary. Not lonely.
He felt the shock of a twig snap.
A family of elk weaved through the aspens.
The cold did not affect their thirst.
They moved to the stream below the spring.
Below Paul on the slope.
He felt the desire to be wild.
To live as the elk among the aspens.
To be closer to god in nature.
High on the mountain.
All these thoughts tugged at him to stay.
He retreated to humanity.
copyright © 2023 Kenneth P. Gurney
Umflop 