Cliffside Audition

With yellow leaf of Aspen 

carpeting my path, 

I pull my body up and up

the cliff-side trail to 

hear my heartbeat singing 

in my ears, with effort. 

Here, abruptly I am 

stopped,

instructed by the rising sun and 

setting moon 

to join, as best I can, their promenade. 

For this surprise

audition, I will tune 

into the restless rhythm

nature’s cadence. 

With the river Rogue below my orchestra, 

I set my feet to flight. 

The ballet turns I give

in front of this full house of 

ferns and nettles thrill me. 

And the wind’s applause belongs

inside my ears with my own heartbeat’s songs.