Written by Jason M. Hilliard – On a foggy, misty morning in a sleepy mountain town
Two twin boys say “Hello Day!” with shrieks and leaps and bounds.
Adventure’s on its way! Happy feelings grow!
Jammies off and make the bed, Daddy puts on their clothes.
Daddy wipes sleepy eyes and laces big boots up.
Say a prayer, eggs and toast, orange juice in their cups.
In their seats, windows down, Oooooh they like the breeze!
Caiden spies birds and clouds. Canyon sees lakes and WOW a lot of trees!
Deep into the dark, green woods, hold hands in the parking lot,
On a shady woodland trail, let’s find our favorite spot.
Crunchy pine cones, rough tree bark, sniff sweet flowers as they pass,
A giant tree by the winding creek! Let’s lay here in the grass!
Butterflies flitter, bees be-buzz, birds whiz here and there,
Daddy says children grow big and strong in the cool, clean mountain air!
Up again, we must move on, we are getting close!
A bridge ahead and top the hill where the great green river flows.
“I see some fish” says Canyon, “swimming in the creek,”
Caiden says they may look alike, “But just like twins, each one is unique!”
The water ripples, swirls and glides. It talks in bubbly thumps,
Little waves that run and play as over the rocks they jump!
“Onward!” says Daddy, “we’re not done yet, the adventure is not over,”
“There are beetles, snakes, turtles and ants, even holly, oak and clover!”
The race is on, faster they run, across a bridge on the trail,
Around a log, down the steep hill, fast as the wind they sail!
Little boys and girls (and parents too!) should always explore and scout,
“I wonder what’s under that rock” asks Canyon. “There’s only one way to find out!”
Caiden crouches down, lifts the rock, Oh he cannot wait to see!
A worm and a beetle and LOOK a toad! Go ahead, it’s OK to get dirty!
Some bugs are soft and others crawly, of every color and white,
Before you touch, ask Daddy first, because some bugs like to bite!
Now follow Daddy who follows the trail that follows the river like friends,
Caiden sees the treasure first: “Oh, look! Here’s where the river bends!!”
Curving through the tree-lined path they skip and leap and run,
Who wants to sit and watch TV when outdoors is so much fun?
The brown dirt trail is turning to stone, then sand and bits of wood,
And there is the U-shaped river bend, oh, a picnic here will be so good!
A bit of apple, a sip of juice and a sandwich of ham and cheese,
With tummies full and rested legs, hiking back is a breeze!
Caiden and Canyon, the mountain boys, tromp over roots and rocks and mossy stone,
Step by step back the way they came, the river leads them home.
Back to the town and Mommy, with a zip and a zesty, “YAAAY!”
What a morning! So much to tell! The forest is their favorite place to play!
Two mountain boys, Daddy makes three, laughing and loving each other,
Caiden and Canyon wish all their friends could be mountain boys AND twin brothers!
________________________________________________________________
Jason Hilliard, a native of Kent, Ohio, has called Hendersonville home for nearly a decade. He is the proud Father of 8-year old twin sons and finds inspiration through hiking, reading and mountain biking.
