Trail

Abandoned sneakers crown a pile of drying palm fronds, as though they’ve been parted from their legs much as the palm fronds have been severed from their trees.

then

way

to stalks

of purple blooms with saffron tongues

The white bands of butterflies striped like zebras announce their presence in the shade,

In the path lies the circular mounded artistry of ants that signals that new and private world they’ve cleared out for themselves below.

and will remain after we leave. This is the more constant truth of the world, and I return home to create a reminder of it.