Sometimes you gotta crawl

Smoky Mountains, TN. Photo by Jim White.

In the dark

It’s muddy underfoot

The trees are thick

There’s a small opening

Lower than waist level

You must crawl

Options-

Bear crawl, child crawl, soldier crawl, snake-like slither

You will get dirty

It’s unclear

Unknown

What is in the ground

In the branches

Beyond the clearing

But you must go

It’s the only way forward

Or rise and turn around

No adventure….defeated

Less

There’s no maintenance level

It’s up or down

Forward or reverse

No staying in place

Decay or growth.