Story Behind The Song

I camped in the deep redwoods along the Navarro River near the Mendocino Coast in northern California and wrote this poem to commemorate that day. Now I've set it to music! People used to spend the whole summer in this place, the were few rules or clothes, and everyone who was there when the sun set got dinner and a free place to bed down for the night.

Song Description

waking in the forest, watching her bring the water from the river, make eggs and coffee while I wait for the sun to make its way down through the giant branches above.

Lyrics

columns of sun-danced dust hover above a well-laid rug of cones and needles, roots and stumps, jewels of mist drops gild a spider's mint web on the log by my feet, All My Ancient Dreams!
Up through the tall trees' stretch and yawn she comes, she carriees water from the river....
Steady forearm, locked wrist
Hold the pot out above her slow, sure stride.
Trusting small sticks to bits of paper, picking
the morning's match, nudging it to die bright,
Her coat pocket kisses the dust as she kneels to light the fire.
I duck back inside my body-warm pouch to wait for a crossing patch of sun to call me out
For slow-fried eggs and coffee
In a bitter tin cup.