She sat gingerly on the rotting stump. Moss grew up the sides of the
fleshy wood, her fingers playing idly over the soft texture. Her skin
was dark, like her fathers and her chestnut hair fell loosely to her
elbows, the ends slightly curled. Curious eyes peered up at her,
belonging to little children as they sat Indian style on the earthen
floor. The dark skinned woman smiled then, a flash of white teeth set
in her darkly tanned face. The children smiled back shyly, awaiting her
tune. She started with a soft hum, the melody flowing freely from her
lips and caressing the winds. She spoke then, singing soothingly; "When
springtime douses the trees with leaves, And the birds sing in their
midst; Their songs humbly floating by, Caressing the ears of the
winds," She stopped her tune smoothly, continuing with a soft hum. The
children gazed at her, their ears capturing her melody as they retain
the tune in their minds. The maiden's eyes were closed as she hummed
and they soon fluttered open, words escaping her mouth once again; "The
cardinals with their scarlet wings, Dot the sky with red. The wings of
a feather flying low, Amidst the suns decent." The children giggled
then as a cardinal swooped low, perching itself in a near oak tree yet
the maiden continued. "The owls old and wise still, Creatures of the
night. Silent as a stealth wind, As the fly along their plight." The
words broke to humming once more as dusk began to settle and the low
call of an owl echoed in the still air. "And within the shady groves,
Our air born friends reside. Their songs humbly floating by, Caressing
the ears of the winds." She finished her tune with a drawn out note and
smiled, lifting herself as if by strings, graceful and smooth before
moving back into the forests from whence she came. The children gasped
then as a flock of robins flew through the clearing; lifted by the
fingers of air along their crimson chests, gray feathers dusting the
grounds.
