We would have fallen had we not been paying attention. This is not just metaphor
Offtrail to the north, the woods are charming in the fall. There is some concern for black bears, but this is a little fanciful. The greater danger is the well. Flush to the ground, its lips are leaves and its mouth a shadow
Someone built this long ago (obviously). It once had a wall around it (maybe). Time is tricky when it comes to these things; just like that someone we were too shy to speak to back “then.” Memory swallows us if we let it; just like that rest stop on I44 { somewhere between Springfield and St. Louis } where we awakened in the dark to pure adrenaline { more on this later; it deserves its own story }
What holds underneath an edge?
Wellwater biding
And whatever else
It is good we were watching for more than just bears. Next time who knows…?