Esk Poetry

So many of us
Running in this big anthill
Of busy humans

Again and again
Trying my best to fulfill
The duties of life

Oh, how I long for
Sweet breeze of childhood summer
Wind from carefree days

Every chance I get
I escape into the wild
At least in my dreams

Today, a letter
Waiting grimly on my desk
I'd like to ignore

Bearing news about
Change and doom and pain and death
Turning life around

Time is running out
Do I really wish to work
For my last days here?

Pack up belongings
Run away from grey anthills
Of sad, lost humans

Travel to another world
Where sun is warm, birds sing free
A good place to be

Recall every scene
Why was I gone so long?
Wasting my days away

This tree and that rock
All the nature from the past
Reviving my soul

Thinking how it's sad
That getting to this forest
took only few steps

I find a river
Outlined by countless tree trunks
Bowing for the stream

Water feels cold, fresh
But beneath the surface, oh..!
Eyes that meet my gaze

So, so many sharp teeth
Alligator, crocodile?
It doesn't stop to tell

Beast dashes forward
Snaps its jaws, finds my poor leg
Pain burns like white flame

In panic I fight
Kick, scream, cling to the stern trees
Wish for miracle

Predator lets go
I climb on top of branches
Too scared to look down

Finally night falls
Animal leaves me alone
Goes back home; I can't

Dizzy and shaking
I try to stumble back down
Getting there too fast

I fall on hard roots
Yet another surge of pain
Can't move afterwards

This is it, I know
The nature I love kills me
And still I'm not sad

Another figure
Approaches me from the dark
No man, no beast... Spirit?

I do not feel fear
When the creature speaks
From its mind to mine

"Do you want to stay?"
I don't need to ponder much.
"I want nothing more."