The stones crunched under loud feet
pebbles flew
twigs snapped
feet scuffed the ground 
but the loudest thing
was their voices
bouncing off the trees
echoing through the forest
they punched each other
bumped and shoved 
down the gravel path
the brush backed away
the grass bent the other way
even the trees swayed uncomfortably
He walked behind them
mouth a line of silence
cringing along with the forest
he stopped
and closed his eyes
the wave of voices receded
back to sea
the breeze filtered through his hair
the trees cloaked him in shade
the pebbles settled under his sneakers
the brush sighed 
waved in the wind
the boy lifted his head 
he gazed up at a nest
snug in the braches of a birch
a baby robin peeped his head over the brim
its blank eyes watched him

he liked being shy
in the forest
where the quiet ruled
the silent lived
the place he would inherit

this world was his