Echo Rock

Echo Rock

The car meanders up the winding, secluded road.
A concrete path through the thick woods,
leading us to our secret getaway.

We hold hands but sit in silence.
Instead of wasting words, we listen
to the sublime lullaby
orchestrated by the engine’s purr
and the crickets,
and the frogs.
The symphony of summer.

Through the open windows,
the cool night breeze floats off the waves
of the reservoir water
and across the street.

It wanders through the car every so often
pausing for a moment to play with your hair.
Like a pesky younger sibling
never allowing for complete privacy.

We reach our usual parking spot
only to find that the door is open
and the lights are on
in the camp counselor’s office.

We park on the side of the road,
hoping that the shield of trees
will conceal the car from the world.

Clouds roll in overhead and eclipse Earth’s nightlight.
The Man on the moon begins to cry,
upset that he can’t provide us
with guidance through the dark.

We are the center of the universe tonight.

We slip through the open field and past the office
using the vail of darkness and falling water to hide our presence.
We reach the woods and take refuge from the rain
under its protective canopy.

We follow the beam of a flashlight
as it leads us through the labyrinth of trees.

A mystical world only we know about.

Teardrops trickle down from the branches above.
The damp leaves on the forest floor
fill our noses with a sweet, oaky aroma.
The scent is intoxicating.

We’ve been through this maze many times
but getting lost is part of the journey.
Making our way through the unknown together
only strengthens the bond we share.

The clouds become tired of tormenting our moon
and the summer storm ceases as they disperse.
The Man in the sky is finally happy
and he leads us to our hideaway with smiling eyes.

We arrive at our spot
where the shore is a rock.
We lie down on our backs
and gaze up at the stars.

They are envious of you.
Your sparkling diamond eyes
are more beautiful than
all the shining stars in the galaxy.

We sit in silence for the longest time
afraid to disturb the moment
with the wrong words.

I finally touch your hand and say,
“I am happy here with you.
There is nowhere I would rather be.”

And you look at me and smile
and I know you feel the same.