With pending rain, I decided today's walk needed to be faster than my usual slog up Mount Battie. So I hit the trail at Beech Hill Preserve, which is less steep, and tried to hurry. But then I ran into my friend Brian, who walks there daily; he'd had similar thoughts about trying to beat the rain. (He posts a bird report every day from Beech Hill, in poetry form in the past few weeks.) So I spent more time than I'd planned, in the drizzle, but I didn't mind. And I don't think he did either.

Fast morning hike
trying to beat the rain
til I run into an old friend.