Rushing Wind

Grunts of effort as I slowly lower

Lower the basket down

Down to my love

Laden with jugs of water

Fresh rain caught

She guides the basket

To the base of the tree

Lifting carefully one jug

Sipping softly life affirming

Life rejuvenating water

 

Quickly I retract the basket

Water secured below

Now laden instead with empty jugs

Replacements for yet more water

I grasp the basket as it comes within reach

Quickly placing the five jugs beneath the tarp contraption

 

I smile and ease my leather slings over the branch above me

Sidling out farther over thinner branches

Wind whipping me up some this far above

I release one of my slings and carefully toss it towards the next tree

Rain catcher awaiting my arrival

New branch snagged I ease my foot off of the tree

Stretching

Reaching for the next

My foot finds purchase and I leap over

Swing catching my other sling

Over the branch which now stretches out above me

 

I can hear my love gasp below

Always concerned about the speed with which I traverse these treetops

“Careful Matthew!”

She cries out

Slapping the trunk of the tree I now hang from

“It’s fine!”

I call back

“You worry too much”

She scoffs

“I worry just enough, thank you!”

 

I reach with one hand and lift

With a grunt

One jug at a time into the basket

Easing then this precious package down

Down

Down to her

We repeat the trade as before

And then I eye the next tree

One more for today

 

Careful

Precise

Wrist flicking leather sling

Grasp

Reach

My foot lacks purchase

The gasp scarcely leaves my throat

I hear the wind whipping

Feel branches scratch and claw

Reaching

Something rushing

River loud

A scream

Not mine

Then…

So, I’m collabing with my lovely Amberley on a collection of poetry. To read more from this world go check out the poem she posted on her Word Press!Make sure you follow her cause she is an amazing poet and you need to do yourself a favor and get her work in your life.