Rainless in Spring Branch

walking in our woods
sounds like
walking on new fallen snow
crunch crunch crunch
so dry the entire
woods crowd
shows up at the water
deer fox crow turkey
peacock jay bunting
woodpecker titmouse
chickadee dove cardinal
bluebird oriole finch
blackbird vulture
and jenny wren
we work busily
on these rainless days
feeding and drawing
ice cold well water for them
wanting to fall asleep
listening to the soft rain falling
on the metal cabin roof
in the darkness
of the night