I saw
a fern quivering
close to the
black, black ground.
I saw the
small
leaf covered
mound
begin to move.
Pushing
the blanket
of sodden leaves
up
as if
breathing
as if
cracking open
as if
getting born
or lumbering awake.
I could not help myself.
I prodded it
with a lichen covered stick
ever so gently
to see if it had eyes with which to see me.
The mound stopped
pushing.
I watched.
It waited.
I walked
On.
Which does not mean
the earth mound
moved
or not
according to my bidding.
This perhaps is our elusive human flaw.
Our fallacy of misplaced grandeur
that deludes ourselves
into believing
we can force the earth to move.
