The path she took she knew,
knew so well
by her childhood
footsteps padded,
button toed and tiny heeled,
a sole flattened way
below the pines,
a strung winding
trodden line to her friend.
So many times
she travelled
sometimes eyes closed,
bare foot familiar,
feeling brown needles,
soft sand
wandering roots
just where they should be,
route touches of
assuring signs,
breeze wisped
in tree cloaked
rustling forest fabric,
wrapping the nearby
watery sounds.
The same in mind
in other ways as older,
for friends that come and go
and stay.