Following a path meandering by the side of a river as it flows on to the sea.
From the banks, trees rise majestically to the sky, their canopies enshrouding the river.
Light, beams through the canopy spotlighting the water, as the water passes through the beam, the rippling water break out into a sparkle of colours.
Hover flies and midges fly over inches above the moving water to get to the stillness of the sides.
Birds swoop down and scoop the moving feast as they fly from side to side.
The clarity of the water accentuates the colours of the rocks below that breach through to create surf sprinkling into mini rainbows.
Reflections on the water show the fullness of the trees in a ‘stuttering’ form as the water rippling, flows on and on.
The noise of the water rushing by, the trees rustle as the breeze goes through and the birds singing their song.
Mingled together they make a lullaby for the weary traveller to sit and rest.
Sitting there on a clump of grass and looking around, a visual scene of serenity enshrines your whole being.
The longer you sit and ‘be still’ the more alive the area becomes as the birds start again to feed.
Ripples in the water indicate something underneath is moving, another bird glides over the spot and then ‘drops’ into the water emerging with a fish.
Other birds increase their noise and swoop alongside trying to get the bird to drop its catch as it flies away.
The sweet smell of grass, the ion within the air from the water and the musty aroma of trees relaxes and releases the stresses built up within, leaving you to smile in contentment.
The grass showing off its many hues, the trees show texture, shade and a harshness of many colours, the leaves whilst the colour of grass contrast against it as the light bounces in and around the canopy.
Farm animals from the surrounding field congregate at the edges of the River to drink, completing a scene of yesteryear - but this today!
Moving on there is no spring in my step, I just continue to meander and look and listen and smell.
Soon enough a breakthrough of this wooded river and a clearing appears.
A small beach like area with picnic benches set back, worn dusty paths from the road surround the benches and goes to the river.
Litter bins on the edges but litter is all around, signs of distress to the area cry out as the breeze scatters the litter around and around.
The only birds here are the scavengers who clear up some of the foodstuffs left of others.
Signs in the dust on the paths of other animals, scavenging the remnants in the twilight.
A car park emerges in the distance and reality sets back in.
Closer and closer, other noises permeate the air together with an undefined smell is brought through on the breeze.
The noise becomes clearer for what it is, a roar of engines being powered along. The smell is realised of refined oil except the smell doesn’t really smell ‘refined’ but sharp, tangy and alien.
The results of which imprint into my senses the ‘what could be’ as I enter back into the ‘civilised world’