the benefits of retreating

Today I walked
along the road

I turned off
my walkman

I listened to
and observed
the silence

at first no birds
sang
then I heard
a bird's song

robins hopped
along the grass
keeping their
distance
but in my presence

I enjoy their
company

I sat on several
park benches
under pine trees
that whispered
in the wind

I sat for a while
listening
waiting
for the appearance of deer

but no deer
showed today