under filtered sun
that dances
with gentle breezes
in the heart
of the forest
inch worm
holds fast
at his tail
front end
reaching
tapping
sightless
in a strange land
searching
for the edge
of the curb
hearing
the traffic
knowing
his destination
is on
the other side

how strange for me
some days later
while sitting
at the pond's edge
to see this same one
or his cousin
plop
like a pebble
from the sky
into
the shallow water
before me

perhaps he fell
from the branches above
but he clearly needed
my help

i reached out a twig
for him to climb upon
to be transported
to the solid earth again
to continue
his all-important work
of measuring
mother nature's
lovely face
one green inch
at a time

and i realized
in a moment
that I am he
and he is me--
that when my
over-reaching world
crashed
beneath my feet
a few years back
and i plunged
headlong
into the pond
who was it
that saw my plight
and bridged me back?

it was you--

yes
it was you