But One Small Creature

But One Small Creature
© Surazeus
2025 01 25

Because she can imagine in her mind 
so many possible futures of life 
unfolding before her hesitant feet 
that lead to unknown outcomes, good or bad, 
Florence stands till under the rowan tree 
and listens to the robin sing instead. 

Narrow scope of her vision at her feet 
expands forever wider from her spot 
to enclose valley of river and trees 
with vibrant wholeness now round as her eye 
till sense of vastness overwhelms her heart 
and she feels her smallness on the huge Earth. 

"How large is this Earth of mountains and vales?" 
Florence asks the robins with sense of awe, 
but they keep chirping in their little world. 
"Just as the tree is the world to the bird, 
this vale consists of everything I know, 
but I cannot see beyond far dark hills." 

"Just as the bird is small in its huge tree, 
I am but one small creature on this Earth, 
so I can stand here alone on my spot, 
safe in this meadow of familiar trees 
where I have lived my entire span of life, 
or I can explore beyond my own world." 

Staring at the river sparkling with sunlight, 
Florence ponders which direction to start. 
"The river always flows one certain way, 
so I will go with the flow of its bright dream, 
and see how far it goes until it ends, 
most likely in the world-enclosing sea." 

She follows curvaceous flow of the river 
that winds among hills in thick crowded woods, 
where she treads lightly with cautious alertness, 
then onto broad open plain of hard winds, 
where she strides quickly into glowing haze, 
stopping to eat and rest each afternoon. 

Sliding down steep grassy slope to the beach, 
Florence marches out to edge of the world 
and stands imbued with wonder of wild joy 
to see boundless waves of the swirling sea. 
"The Earth is so much bigger than I thought, 
enormous globe that floats in sea of stars." 

Startled by sight of sturdy wooden boat 
that slides onto sand, Florence greets the man 
with silver eyes who steps boldly on shore 
with net of wriggling fish and shouts with joy. 
Roasting fish on the fire as the sun sets, 
Florence and Reynard eat and sing with love.