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Forgive me for becoming
unfamiliar again. The creek
hidden below entrenched
with rippling sounds
moving drew me down
the mudded trail
slip sloped and nettled
with stumps wrapped green
to the place I must be
followed to be found

by the water that flows
up to knees, pants hiked
bare feet cupped balanced
on slippery bed stones
slowly smoothed in time
walking against currents
or with; a whim uncoupled
from all that is wished.

You were with me, the whole
time I was imagined gone,
oblivious to importance
when even leaves fluttering on
their fixed sticks sound
loud as the rippling creek