Foolish Courage

The red sun rose steadily over the mountain side,

as if sneaking a look into a dark room.

The wind rested on the tree tops,

taking a break from a long night's storm.

Nothing moved, nothing breathed, nothing.

A deer crept out from the forest edge,

while on the opposite side a cougar.

Neither one paying any attention to each other,

just the cold of the morning air;

and the sound of nothing moving, nothing breathing, nothing.

Snow quietly sang as it fell from the sky,

some flakes melting in the beams of the sun.

Others floating to the high evergreens,

and painting them white;

looking over the sight of nothing moving, nothing breathing, nothing.

A lone life stepped up from behind the shadows,

a board in his hand, determination in his eyes.

He stared over the hill side,

of white, green, and red;

and the vast terrain of nothing.

Suddenly the cougar bolted away,

the deer disappeared.

The lone soul took off down the white runway,

speed on his side, along with his heart.

gliding down into nothing.

The wind leapt off the trees,

giving the rider a burst of new energy.

The sun rose quicker now,

trying to get a better look;

at the fool riding into nothing.

Adrenaline flooded the riders veins,

as the wind surrounded him.

A look to his left told him he was being followed.

The sky stood alone except for the rush of wings,

chasing him into nothing.

A pair of eagles screamed as they flew after the rider,

colliding with the wild wind.

The sun was higher now,

its light washing over the world,

the world of nothing.

The rider looked ahead,

gaining even more speed.

His breath suddenly held,

when his board was no longer on the ground,

but soaring into nothing.

The eagles lifted higher,

the rider fell lower.

The wind went silent,

as the trees whispered.

And the sun laughed, at the riders attempt, to conquer nothing.

The air felt cold as it rushed past his face,

and his board shook at the oncoming wind.

He was flying.

Just like the eagles, the wind, and the snow;

all here in this world of nothing.

The riders legs trembled, his mind swirled,

when he hit the soft fluff of white.

The eagles smiled, and the trees clapped,

making the snowflakes dance.

The wind raced with excitement,

before blowing clouds to block the sun,

as it continued to laugh at the fool.

The rider looked back up at the cliff,

he knew he would return again,

to visit this land of nothing. . .

and everything.