Appalachian Trail

He walked, cultivating mindfulness.

Body encompassed universe. Galaxies swam his bloodstream.

That's how he noticed, fifty feet off the path, a little brown wren, motionless as a mirror, caught in a snapped-off branchlet.

Three thin twigs, two slivers of duct tape, and leg splinted, the bird hopped, then flew.


by Kim Bonsteel