the lovers path

i go off the trail,

deep

into the woods, 

out to where hikers

rarely go,

to where the signs

and markers end,

to where

the path is overgrown,

and the bones

are everywhere.

i see where the sun is in

the sky,

and measure

the time i have and the distance

i'll need

to travel to get

to the other side.

i follow the moss

on the north

trunk of the trees.

at last, not a can or bottle,

or piece of

trash

is on the ground.

and then i see two people

on the ground

before me,

making love in the weeds.

i tell them, excuse me,

please, don't get up,

i'm just passing through.