Forest Footing

the light made 
particular 
by the filter
of unfallen leaves.

i find numerous ways to fall
trying to cover
the forest floor
bare soled:

unbalanced
by the needles
of drying pines,
deceived to misstep
by the unsolid depth
of soiled leaves
and raspberry thorns.

i trip myself
into appreciating
the sudden stillness
of a sudden fall.

Steven Reid