Ah, Poison Oak
Mighty keeper of the Present Mind
Your presence demands my own
Tending tirelessly to the boundaries of trail and awareness
Lest we stray too far off
In thoughts or footfalls
Wandering minds so quickly returned here
With the gentlest brush of a three-lobed leaf
Or the palpable “whap” of branch on cheek
Voicelessly you intone:
“WAKE UP!”