STATE FOREST the trail through deep woods in a long slope down past two giant oaks that have fed thousands of squirrels in their time and must have watched hundreds of men go by even in such a lonely place thins as it tracks along the stream at the base of the ridge then crosses it as if intent on arriving at some barn or house or field but whatever purpose it once had whatever place it once brought you to is long since gone the peace of the woods is how empty the forest has become and the return having gone nowhere to happiness this life of belonging comes from how the leg-weary walk back uphill will take more out of you