summer night

 I step out my door into the embrace of the warm summer night. The chirp of crickets and tree frogs fill the air; the sound soothes me. The sky is sprinkled with star light and the solstice moon beckons me further into the night. I follow the garden path towards the sound of the bubbling brook. It winds it's way through the forest at the edge of my yard.  I wander deeper into the night and the smell of pine grows strong. I realize that I'm not alone and it delights me. I'm kept company by tiny, flickering lightening bugs. They dance and bob through tree branches and  seem to be giggling. The earth crunches as small twigs and leaves long dead crush beneath my feet. MY step is light and careful as I make my way through the darkness, my only light the moon and stars. A warm breeze caresses my face. Suddenly the air grows cooler and I know that the brook is close now. It sparkles in the moon light. I walk to it and sit on a moss covered rock. My "she" brook sings to me. I look upon her surface and watch the water spill over and around rocks and branches and playfully spiral in small eddys. Moonbeams dance to and fro in harmony, reflecting off the water in shards of light. This is the moment that spring turns into summer and the earth seems to sigh with relief and tranquility. I sit quietly and contemplate my life and the beauty I'm surrounded by. The magic of the summer solstice lures me to this place each year. It's my self created rite of summer and I cherish the journey.