I want to remember the tranquil silence of the pine forests that
surround me, tall and ancient and majestic. I want to remember
Maude, my best friend, who is nudging my hand with a cold nose
to remind me that she’s here and she wants to play. I want to
remember the excited shouts of my siblings as they race down
the driveway on their dusty bikes. I want to remember the shrill
cries of the woodpeckers and the haunting voices of owls as they
hunt in the night. I want to remember the wide-eyed deer and the
tangy blackberries and the cicada’s summer symphony. I want to
remember the overwhelming calm of sitting alone on the rusty
gate and watching the beauty of the earth and trees and sky as
they grow and move and change.
I w a n t t o r e m e m b e r.
I feel as if my soul is overflowing with thoughts and memories and
questions. The sun sinks lower in the sky and paints the world with
faded colors and I stand alone among the towering pines, lost in
thought, a forgotten envelope in my pocket and forgotten initials
at my feet.
This is just how I want it to be.
I pray that I’ll never forget this place.