I rewrote this in song form for a project to hopefully share with some of my musician friends. Marty is also a waterways restoration expert and lives a green life on a farm in central Wisconsin. I hope he can appreciate this:
RAILS TO TRAILS (for Marty)
The morning's respite
From chore and errand
The rolling field that
Once was tilled
Now Lies quiet
In tune with its Past
CHORUS
Footfalls steady, hard and fast
The breath from my chest and
The songs in my head...
A walk through woods
Over bog and bridge
The level trail that
Once was rails
Now mostly silent
In tune with its Now
CHORUS
BRIDGE
A mile north
My only companions
Creatures heard but unseen
The streams of former snow...
A mile south
My companions remain
Creatures heard but unseen and
The streams of former snow
CHORUS
Return to
The rolling field that
Once was tilled
Now lies quiet
Building our better
Future