Inked Foliage

The warm beam of the desk lamp spilled across an open clothbound sketchbook, illuminating a finely rendered ink plate of woodland mosses. Instead of scouting another perimeter, I brought my leafy companion down onto the heavy cotton paper. Crouching beside the ruled margin, I set its rounded crown next to a delicately crosshatched stem. The drawn contour mirrored the curve of my companion's leaves with surprising precision. With a gloved fingertip, I traced the faint vein pattern across the textured page while my companion nestled contentedly against the deckled paper edge, studying its illustrated counterpart in absolute stillness.