leaves crunching under feet
at dusk, the sky dark blue
fading into a desolate, enveloping black
wind howling through the rustling leaves
faint owl hoots echo in the eerie silence
brushing thorns with fingertips
crimson red paints the soil
tip-toeing on branches across forest streams
like tightrope walkers
with a thousand feet below them
holding their breath
silhouettes bleed into the night
and so do I