We were too late

to see the deer

walk the foggy ridge,

but we plunged down into the cedars–

as the deer must have–

and glanced back up

just in time

to see the sun clear the ridge

and slice into the woods,

setting the mist and fog aglow.

Were the deer watching, too? Did they wonder why we (I) stopped for such a while?

I started this June 29th hike up Ryuso at 5:25 am. Reason being a guy had told me the day before that he usually started around 5 am. He seemed to like being the first one on the mountain and to get to the ridge when the deer were still out and about. I managed to be the first one up the mountain, but the deer had already chosen other places to hang out. Maybe should have started a half hour earlier.

It was still raining a bit when I started and everything was pretty wet–which made the frogs eager for strolls. This guy was intent on not hopping. A plumpily dignified stride was just the thing for him.

“We.” You know, me and the frogs.