Jollie Brook

Strewn out across old river terraces

we walk through tall tussock-grasses

to the beech forest and honey-dew wasps,

and a quick scramble down to the edge of the lake;

then, after lunch and a quick, cold, paddle,

we walk single-file over tree-canopied saddle

to - wouldn’t you know it? -

a creek too wide to jump, just in front of the hut!

With washing hung out on matagouri hooks

and after a good solid meal with my companions,

I put a boot over the mouse-hole in the kitchen

and we each retire for the night.

Come morning, we set off down Jollie Brook,

sometimes on an unmarked route through the water,

sometimes on a sheep track high over a bluff,

back out to tussock-covered river flats and - the van.

Ostensibly,

    a group of friends walking together,

        but each on her own -

            individual -

                journey!

        © Valerie Laura

        18 December 2009