Dryad Rain Dash

Maple lead us in a sprint through the trees
Pine strode beside me as we dodged rain drops
Dashing from slight shade to slight shade like deer
Still, water seeped through our clothes undeterred

In a stand of trees I’d not before seen
We moved toward a looming, cone-filled pine
Beneath its full, low branches no drops fell
Our speeding hearts slowed as the rain increased

Beneath the tree was sacred and a home
The air smelled of balsam, sweet-rich with earth
Around the tree trunk were three feather strings
Collections of owl, jay and wren raiments

Maple knelt by a ring of grey-white stones
Placing logs within, she lit a small fire
Drops from her hair fell sizzling downward
Laughter and a smile lit her dripping face

Pine and I sank to the ground beside her
Warming and drying ourselves, we fire-gazed
Each flicker and dance of orange and red
Stole away the wet-cold and warm-calmed us

Pine stepped around the tree and was hidden
Chorus-called, she answered with a promise
Maple and I stirred coals and orange logs
Setting sparks to careening heaven-ward paths

With stick-pierced apples Pine returned to us
Gentle hands balanced the stick above coals
When the apples had blistered she withdrew
We drank the sweet juice and savoured the flesh