Alvin Schaut

One day, the wind but a breeze
Subtle, gentle upon ones'face
Puts ones' mind at ease
Yet another day, harsh, rough against ones' face.
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We are each like a tree in the rain forest in the struggle to survive.
Trees both young and old, for it is not one tree but many that make the forest whole.

Through centuries providing medicine, food and shelter to those who find it home.
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Once again, the time of year.
Springs return, with it warm rains.
New growth, though small and fragile, bring forth flowers, soon to appear
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The winter night, dark, cold and clear,
All the stars above twinkled brightly against the night sky.

Morning's dawn would soon appear as the darkness slowly disappeared and the stars faded away.
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The time of year, the air turns cold, rain becomes snow.
Small snowflakes, large snowflakes.
White specks fill the sky, gently falling to the ground.
Day or night, disappear to reappear.
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It starts as just a trickle, a spring which comes up from the ground, fed by many tributaries, to become one of the biggest rivers around.

Always there, constant flow.
Before it had its name, Native Americans used it as a highway, for even today people still travel it the same way.
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Years ago people settled in Wisconsin
from near and distant countries and for those who lived there before.

People from the past.., such rich diversity,
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Wherever you may be,
Whatever you may do,
hiking, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling or by canoe.
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From the early morning dark to the early morning dawn.
The sky becoming lighter as the moon and stars seem as if to fade away.

Yet the rising sunrise is the beginning of a day.
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Signs of spring.
With it, warm rains does it bring.
New growth, new leaves on trees.
Different shapes and sizes, subtle greens.
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The forest is alive, starting life from just a seed, needing earth, water and light to survive.
Its bark smooth, a small yet fragile sapling reaching up to reach the sky.

Through storms, lightning strikes, drought, cold winters long, even from human hands.
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From mountain high to valley low, the warmth of springs thaw runoff comes clear cold water from the melting snow.

Spring rain, cool and clear, mist and fog, early morning's dew, creeks, rivers, lakes renew.
Though mud stained from the thaw, the water soon will clear, life sustaining, life anew.
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From the ground, just a little tree beginning life anew,
Its bark smooth, its branches thin.
Growing up to reach the sky, nourished from the ground its in.
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A place to go for solitude.
A summer walk, through leaves.
A winter walk, through snow.
On the way passing weathered pine stumps,
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