far back a slow green river in morning mist, crossing stones worn smooth, pale light on the far bank where the forest starts again.
in the middle a heron standing at the deepest stone like a toll keeper, silver fish holding still in the current below, a family of otters queued up on the bank waiting their turn.
up close one crossing stone up close with wet moss and a single left behind acorn, ripples spreading from something that just slipped under.
the layers, back to front · one pair of hands each
