Lately I’ve been running along the upper ridge of HIgh Bridge Park on the east side of Manhattan, which has been refurbished by the Parks Department. You would never know that you’re in the city on this path.
Approaching the High Bridge Tower, I felt like I was in Middle Earth, on some sort of quest. Clearly a wizard lived in this tower and I was going to have to answer some very tricky riddles to get what I wanted. Question: what exactly did I want?
Behind me lay a gilded path, which seemed important. (The mind will drift to quite astounding scenarios on a run, in my experience.)
At the top of the stairs, I a found a row of sweet gum trees.
Any visit with the tower’s wizard would have to wait; the area surrounding the base was blocked off for construction, probably related to the footbridge to the Bronx, which is also being repaired. As usual, the modern world destroyed all thoughts of Middle Earth.
This earth seemed good enough for the moment, however.
After all, what could could be more perfect than a red leaf on green grass?
The pavement was a river cutting through the mists.
The leaves waited quietly for the ferry to arrive, knowing it would take them across.
