THE MAGIC OF THE FOREST

I HAVE CAMPED ALONE IN THE THICK OF THE FOREST MANY TIMES.  I CHOSE TO GO ALONE.  IN LATE AFTERNOON, THE SHADOWS GROW LONG....THE DAY TIME WIND IS SUBSIDING...I LOVE THE WAY THE WIND ANNOUNCES ITS COMING. FROM ACROSS THE WAY,  THE WHISPERS OF THE PINES...WAVING THEIR BRANCHES.  THE APPROACHING ROAR SUBSIDES AND JUST A LITTLE WHISPER....A SQUIRREL STANDS UP AND NIBBLES A NUT.  SHADOWS GROWING AND THE SUN DISAPPEARS BEHIND YONDER MOUNTAIN.....I LOVE THE DAY AS WELL AS THE NIGHT, BUT SOMETHING ABOUT SUNSET THAT BRINGS A SORT OF SADNESS AND ALSO FEAR.  IT GETS SO DARK OUT THERE.  NOW, ONLY THE VERY TOPS OF THE TREES SHOW THE DEATH OF A DAY..A FADING ORANGE GLOW THAT MOVES UP THE TREE UNTIL IT IS NO MORE...NIGHT COMES QUICKLY...FADING DAY...FIRST STARS COME INTO VIEW....NOW, TOTAL DARKNESS.  SOUNDS OF SCURRYING CREATURES OUT THERE SOMEWHERE...I STOKE THE FIRE AND IT BECOMES A MINIATURE SUN OF SORTS.  DANCING SHADOWS,,, FLICKERING LIGHT...THE RISING OF SMOKE..THE SWEETEST OF SMELLS.  THE TEMP IS FALLING FAST..ALREADY GETTING COLD..I PUT ON MY JACKET AND SIT ON A ROCK.  THE FIRE HAS BECOME A BED OF COALS....SOMETHING HOWLS OUT THERE....IT SENDS COLD CHILLS DOWN MY SPINE....TIME TO GO TO BED.  I CRAWL INTO TWO MAN TENT. WILL LEAVE MY CLOTHES ON TONIGHT..JUST GETTING TOO COLD.  THROUGH OUT THE NIGHT...THE POPPING OF BRANCHES FROM A STEPPING ON...THEY ARE OUT THERE AND I AM AN INTRUDER....I COWER DOWN IN MY SLEEPING BAG AND PULL IT OVER MY HEAD...MAYBE THEY WON'T SEE ME !   I WAKE UP IN THE NIGHT....POKE MY HEAD OUT OF TENT, AND LOOK UP.....THE SKY IS WHITE WASHED WITH STARS..THE MILKY WAY...ERRANT METEORS LEAVE THEIR SIGNATURE AND ARE GONE....I WANT MY MOTHER !!   FINALLY, MORNING COMES....IT IS LIKE A GRAND PRODUCTION...A HINT OF DAWN....THEN, THE TOPS OF THE PINES ARE SHOWING A SOFT WARM LIGHT WHILE THE FOREST FLOOR IS DARK AND ASLEEP.  THE ORANGE GLOW MOVES DOWN THE TREES UNTIL THE FOREST FLOOR WARMS TO A NEW DAY....