Alone, following a narrow footpath
Through the brush among ancient oaks,
I walk the path of dead explorers.

The groan of freeway
and hiss of light rail vanishes
Along with the city's engine
As I top a high ridge
Dropping into nature's kingdom.

Silence stalks me
With wind whispering through dry brush
and oak leaf—
Chatter of early birds
While, with a chirp,
Small paws flee the trail
Vanishing below ground.

Hawks glide
On invisible blue currents
Hunting above the morning banquet.

Thirty minutes later,
Dressed in bright red and blue spandex,
A young sprinter jogs
Along the trail
In the opposite direction
With iPod plugs in both ears,
Oblivious,
His head filled with loud music
Even I can hear.
Three gasping dogs with hanging tongues
Follow on his heels.

One spotted pup
Spins around
With wagging tail
Licking my hanging hand
With toothy grin
Only to fly away
On four-blurred paws.

Minutes later,
A woman appears
Around the stump of a murdered tree
devoured by Asian beetles.
She laughs,
Mobile phone glued to ear
and chatters non-stop
In Mandarin.
Step by step,
Her voice fades
And nature's silence returns
Embracing me.

What would happen
If the electricity stopped working
Forever?