When No One Else Is There

A wide mountain lake 

Spans out before me 

Tranquil and still 

In the chill 

Of the morning air 

The glasslike surface 

Unmoved 

By even a ripple 

Around the edges stand 

Leafless trees

Stoic and stark 

Skeletons of bark 

Reaching up 

From the rocks 

Toward a brooding, overcast sky

Soft, pallid light 

Held back by the clouds 

Muting all colors 

On the lake and the ground 

Converting all hues 

To black and gray 

While far, far away 

Majestic peaks 

Defy the horizon 

Here I stand 

In this natural place 

And here I shall stay 

For a while 

Bundled up 

To endure the cold 

Enjoying the quiet 

The nurturing calm 

The refreshing air 

And the soul stimulation 

Of remoteness 

And isolation 

This wondrous place 

This lake 

The mountains 

The smell of the windless air 

They touch me 

As I stand alone 

Forgetting my cares 

Detached and aware 

Savoring a remarkable calmness 

That I haven’t known 

For a long, long time

Yes 

Here I stand 

One small man 

Dwarfed 

By a vast, untouched landscape 

Admiring the view 

Embracing the magic 

Of solitude 

Gazing at nothing 

While taking in everything 

Experiencing the reverence 

And joy 

Of communion with nature 

I stand in wonder

As I rediscover

Serenity 

Surrounding me 

Feeling at ease 

Completely at ease 

In the cold morning air

When no one else is there 

Copyright © 2018 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved