This Really Happened

[jakebe]

The woods were a short drive from Andy's house
so we said, "Fuck it, let's go"
and so we did; right up the interstate
into the heart of the national park.
You had a four-person tent and extra sleeping bags
for just such an occasion
and we were so grateful
we didn't even mind that the graham crackers
were absurdly overpriced.
The fire was beautiful, as always,
and we told stories to each other,
sharpening our cadences and critiquing each other's
ability to build to a satisfying climax
or deal with boisterous audience participation,
helped by the alcohol
you also had on hand,
just in case.
The morning was beautiful, as always,
great shafts of light wriggling through the leaves,
which were excited that so many things
were so alive that day.
You hugged a tree and said,
"God is here,"
and we all agreed and said a prayer,
asking for nothing else but to make this spot
right here
our temple for just five minutes.
We sat in contemplation and moved on.
The trail mix was amazing
as always.