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Youth
Experiences with nature
Chapter 1: Youth When I was young, I spoke to animals
They told me their adventures, the secrets of the forests
I told my parents, and of course they believed me
Like how all parents believe their children
Until it is treated as true as a gold trimmed book of god.
“Grow up” they spat “life isn't a fairytale”
Of course it's not,I never said it was
As I got older the wind spoke to me, its whispers carried its wispy conversations
“Why do you always talk to me?” I asked on a biting cold morning
It answered with a harsh tone,it's cold breath pierced my bones. almost tearing off my coat
“You're the only one who listens”
I awoke one night to a bird on my small chest
Its brown feathers caressed my face
I arose and he carried me off with ease
I was dropped into an ancient clearing
The trees curled around me like a giant's crown
A Deer walked up to me and kissed my hand
She laid down and cradled my body, sung me lullabies of the forest
Animals gathered around, joining in.
Squirrels chirped and trees hummed
Then silence
A bear lumbered up to me
Its lip curled downwards, and he spoke low, like an ancient god
“Child” his voice rumbled “you are of the earth, your spirit is as mine. You are a sister to all of us, and for that I give you this gift”
His paw touched my head, I felt the memory of years before me swirl in my body.
My eyes fluttered open. I was in my bed again.
I saw the ancient spirits out of my window
My mother scolded me when I told her
“Honey, this is madness you know”
“I know mom” I said,
I was staring behind her, at a doe who bowed and retreated into the forest
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