Pacific Northwest Memories

I was reminded of moving to the
Pacific Northwest and the first time
I visited Mt. Rainier, a forest environ -
And saw huge trees.

Immediately a memory came to my
Mind and whole body...

Cautiously walking quietly
And moving strangely behing
The trees for cover

I KNEW I had been someone else
There, with those trees
In an earlier time.

The present slipped away
And I was me, but different.
Wary, relational to the forest
Knowing alternate things
And having alternate skills.

Maybe that's why I was
Drawn there for some
Unknown reason from the
East coast, and stayed to visit
Many Mt. Rainier environs
For the next 22 years.