Just for today, let it be enough
to soothe this animal body.
Let’s take a walk
down to the creek in the deep forest.
Feel the softness of the soil.
Let the fragrance perfume you.

A child sits by the water.
Anoint her with the oils of the fir.
Don’t abandon her to her fears.
Speak to her in the language of eagle.
Speak to her in the language of fern.
Speak to her in the language of the thousand-year-old redwood,
so she knows who she is.

Listen, the forest is speaking
to all the frightened animals in its care.
I am one with the porcupine,
whose prickly quills are quieted in the here and now.
I am the one who loves the quills.
I hold the hand of the child.
We walk together to the well.