She hides in her colored pencil box,
shading her loneliness in protective lavender.
Once fully obscured, she emerges ready to treat her ears
to nature sounds along the river’s edge.
Brisk current cascades over flat boulders,
mimicking the occasional splashes of fish jumps.
Gulls cry out, announcing their successes at finding food.
A rarely seen otter takes a shoreline swim,
making almost imperceptible ripples.
Her quiet gazing allows a chipmunk to sit just inches away,
washing his paws and face, post meal.
As a couple holding hands walks by,
she tries to clutch her protective lavender.
It begins to fade, so she hurries home to
her colors and the comforting purr of her cat.