A WITNESS
A WITNESS BY DREW BEAM, MIXED MEDIA PRINT
A WITNESS
Leaves and twigs give their final breath in their surrendering
cries and crackles under your step
and springs you forward
Swiftly through all space
you leap onward
The hum of life surrounds you and follows you
Nature responds instantly to your presence
A conversation unfolds between earth and feet
A conversation between you and all life
Did you hear that?
Halt!
And the hum of everything goes mute
Time’s rapid itself matches this new stillness
Not a foot moves
Yet something is afoot
The sound of careful steps begin and approach
big open unblinking eyes now meet
Both of us calculating this moment
Without words asking,
“What is your intent?”
Whoever you are
You are different
I am different
I bow to you
And you bow to me
In respect for each other’s journey
This freeze melts
And my flight leaps on
—by Drew Beam