Somewhere Along the Dandelion Trail

Journal 4.15.25

Dandelion flowers and horse hoof prints in soft soil and buzzing bees no not swarming bees the bees are buzzing buzzing buzzing. And standing quietly yes quietly now the meadow of dry foxtail is popping popping popping and why? Whatever is this popping? Have you stopped to hear the meadow popping? The green canary reed the bride’s lace the lady’s garter is popping through. In gentle breeze. And there are the machine guns of Aberdeen bum-bum-bum-bum-bum-bum-bum. The Sassafras in the distance the bay yonder the proving ground on the horizon. And I pass bed after bed after bed of matted hay and I see the deer chose wisely a resting place with a view on top of the hill looking out at the mouth of the Sassafras. And through the woods there is a clearing over wide water. A sudden movement in a nearby tree and a single deep snap of large wings. There in front of me the awesome the majestic the mesmerizing bald eagle. And I stand in awe—I am always standing in awe—and bow and take my leave and I saunter downward noting the location of flowering garlic and mustard greens. And I strip away shoes and socks and step over shotgun shells on cool sand. Spring bay cold crisp clean. And I walk on the shore and my feet splash through water they make a pleasing sound and I explore a while both trash and treasure. And when I return to shoes and socks a sort of imprisonment is born. But I step into them to move through thick brush having spotted tender shoots of knotweed. And I gnaw on the lemony and vegetal stalk and pass a black lotus that’s washed ashore. And I wonder where this restaurant will be then, in the time of golden skin lacquered in dripping sweat. In the time of lotus flowers. And I walk and I walk and somewhere along the dandelion trail my attention drifts inward. Until I came across a muddy puddle. Perfectly still it sits and I peer inside. For miles it goes so deep it has its own sky and sun. I think yes there is an other side. And I think I could go through to it. Dare I? Or perhaps I have already.