The evening lake

ripples

with frogs and the swish of the reeds

as they dance together

in a bittersweet song.

When I hear the rustle

in the blackberry bushes

behind me,

I follow the tangle

of hair and twigs

into the forest

of my solar plexus.

This new urchin

whom I've yet to meet

seems to want connection

and hate connection.

They glance back with earth brown eyes,

both pleading for me to follow

and terrified I will catch them,

never speaking a word.

"Please," I say gently,

"would you give me a chance?"

They vanish into the thicket as night falls

and the sky sets itself aflame.

"I will wait," I call into the forest.

Silence falls.