Mountain pines and paper birches, bubbling trickling stream, bounded on both sides by the last of winter’s un-melted snow, sunlight dapples the mountain forest floor, cooling breeze seems to sing a calming song, nature’s abundant life surrounds me, I sit on the earth, on a spot warmed by the sun, the hemlock’s soft green and flowing branches and tall thin trunks of paper birches, with seeming grace speak to my whole being, saying breathe deep, breathe slow, in this place, all alone, feel safe, be at peace.