Prescription

I knew my coughing, runny-nose body needed rest, but it was finally sunny and warm, so off Asha and I went
& when we rounded a bend, the Blunt-lobed-Hepatica-covered slope took my breath away
& an orange butterfly fluttered by
& I heard and saw Ruby-crowned Kinglet high in the tree branches
& I almost stepped on Bloodroot en route to admire Hobblebush, whose uncurling leaves reminded me of bowls
& I spotted a Scarlet Cup among the fallen leaves
& a patch of Trailing Arbutus was deliciously fragrant
& tadpoles had yet to emerge from the glorious mass of amphibian eggs
& Asha splashed in the brook, retrieving sticks
& a Wild Turkey ran along the trail, unbeknownst to Asha, who might have been sniffing the turkey’s tracks
& I came upon a new-to-me cluster of Beaked Hazelnuts
& our walk was longer than usual because Asha took us on a detour and then I insisted we detour off the detour so I could look more closely at Eastern Cottonwood twigs
& the walk was medicine.