Pacific Rainforest Wildlife Guardians  

    

                                       Tasting the Mountain Spring

                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                      The spring comes to us through a mile of mountain wood,

 

                                      Beginning in the high cold acres where

 

                                      Snow water starts, but seeping downward there

 

                                      Feeds roots, things at the abysmal source of

 

                                      All life. Sticks and wet stones and thirsts

 

                                                

                                     Of worm and toadstool, unseen starry bursts

 

                                     Of damp wood-pollen fill it--taste enough

 

                                     To let you know it has come down the brink

 

                                     Of more than thunder . . . . in this foaming ditch

 

                                     Water with Earths iron tainted and defiled

 

                                     Mingles with stars, but, for myself, I drink

 

                                     Like a fawn or antelope, un-tasting which,

 

                                     So long as all that waters quick and wild.

 

                                                                                                                   -Loren Eiseley

                                                                                                                   From: The Star Thrower