Odyssey

On a bright sunny afternoon at the river

four anonymous comrades join together in love and affirmation

remembering others far away

 making a daring odyssey

into the sunlight and the shadows of the trees

following paths that lead to the fairy kingdom

of spiral flight among vines whose connection is skyward

never touching the reality of earth.

A black and white spotted infant touched for an instant

opens the portal into the realm

where small purple stars have spiral green tails

and earth-brown children hang from thin branches

plucking purple berries and tasting their sweet nectar for a moment

only to grasp the next immediately.

The legend of an Indian Brave who lived centuries ago

awakens the sleeping children

and they venture forth to conquer the rushing water

defying the treacherous rocks

and the laws of gravity and distance, space and time

which hold no rule in this universe

of wet feet and sun-shined faces.

Once the barrier has been crossed

the children sleep once again.