The calm early morning breeze

Blew across my face and past my ears

While vigorously I pedaled my bicycle

Down a quiet paved country road in Texas

 

A dove singing a welcoming song

To greet the emerging sun

Was enjoying the prospects of the newly born day

 

Power lines invading the natural terrain

Teamed with the wind

To sing their songs

In harmony with the dove

And the sound of a distant cow

 

The tall grass beside the road rustled

With the scurrying of unseen creatures

Disturbed by the approaching spinning wheels

That announced my invading presence

 

As I struggled up a slight incline

My speed became slower

And my efforts more intense

I was distracted for a moment with the arduous chore

Of conquering the hill

 

Beside the road

Surrounded by the weeds

Stood a misplaced garlic plant

Proudly exhibiting its sphere-shaped blooms

 

The soothing moos of the cows became closer

Each utterance different from the other

Some higher in tone, some lower,

Some shorter in duration, some longer,

Some calmer, and some quite excited

 

Their language had become easy to decipher

One cow had shared the news of my intrusion

The others turned their piercing eyes in unison

To stare with interest and curiosity

 

As I approached a bend in the road,

The trees held hands above my head

And the foliage grew deep on each side

A beautiful creek ran fast over the rocks

Where the cows and creatures

Waited to drink and cool themselves

 

Many times I had traveled this road by automobile

But I never saw or heard these morning treasures

The creek had been a quick glittering flash

All else had simply been unheard,

Unseen, and un-noticed

 

Sadness overcame me as I realized

That many others had also

Zipped by such abundant beauty

Without seeing or hearing it

 

My peaceful journey had awakened my attention

To a refreshing perspective and sense of discovery

I became irrepressibly compelled to share my experience

Of a dawn ride, on a quiet country road, in Texas