Lightning was striking everywhere, and each time it did, there was a bright flash that was immediately followed by a deafening crash of thunder. When it first started, I figured it would be wise to do something about it, although I didn’t act. But once the bolts started lighting up individual trees, I sprang into action.
Over the bluff,
A Full Moon rises,
Casting its glow,
On the summer below.
Erupting the dark,
With light shining bright
Awakening the shadows and defeating the night.
Limestone cliffs return to life,
Ravines get deeper and hills get higher,
Cedar thickets spread their arms,
Deer become more than dark flashes,
Tree limbs come out of hiding to dance in the wind,
And silhouettes of monstrous Cypress line the river as it bends.
Then, smell and sound join in,
And…
Campfires flicker across the hilltops,
Cedar smoke fills the air.
Far-off drumbeats keep the rhythm,
And bits of story, song, and laughter,
Faintly echo from beyond.
Rejoice in the moonrise,
And the change it’ll surely bring.
It’s done this many times before,
And I hope there’ll be many more.
Just like those who watched before,
Invite the moon into your eyes.
Ponder the days that are yet to come,
Embrace the times that came,
And rejoice that the moon you see,
Still rises just the same.
Audio Version:
Go up the rock,
The climb is sweet.
It’s best to mostly
Use your feet.
Don’t complicate
The moves you make,
Because if you do
You’ll likely shake.
Your free to use
All cracks and nubs,
And if you must,
Include the shrubs.
Focus on
What’s just above.
Make that mostly what
You’re thinking of.
But do be wary
Of what you hold,
Be sure it’s solid
And good as gold.
Just don’t hug
The rock too tight,
Cause if you do
You’ll take a flight.
Take advantage of stand-on ledges,
Solid flakes, and all nearby faces.
Go with the flow and use what happens
Gladly embrace all that graces.
Climbing simple
Is sometimes best.
Especially if
The view’s your quest.
————————————————–
Audio Version:
I headed to the creek to get a pot full of water
And tripped on a root on my way back to camp.
I staggered and stumbled but didn’t fall,
Then dropped the pot and spilled it all.
So, I turned around and headed back to the stream
And filled the pot up once again.
I set it down by the side of the creek
Then noticed it had a brand-new leak.
I realized that when I dropped the pot,
It must have hit a rock and cracked.
Since the leak was small, I decided to
Just run it back since the drops were few.
I kept my eyes on the pot as I hurried my pace,
That was a big mistake ‘cause I stubbed my toe.
I sat down and put the pot on a rock,
Then took off my shoe and bloody sock.
There wasn’t much to do but whimper and yell,
So, I put my shoe back on and resumed my chore.
I hadn’t thought to take the lid for the pot,
And it was too late when I had that thought.
When I reached down to grab the pot of water
Rocks and dirt fell in from my sleeve.
I watched in disbelief as the liquid turned,
It went from clear to cloudy, and I became concerned.
Thoughts of grit in the chocolate pudding
Mixed with visions of noodles with rocks.
I couldn’t stomach what lay in store,
If I didn’t go back to get water once more.
Once again, I went back to the creek,
And filled the pot with a new batch of water.
I’d more carefully hurry this time, I resolved,
And the fetching of water would finally be solved.
Back to the camp, I hastily walked,
Fully intent to return with a full pot of water.
Halfway back I rounded a bend,
And suddenly thought my life would end.
I was startled and threw the pot into the air
Then froze and looked down, not wanting to stare.
From the corner of my eye, I watched as a bear
Stood up and growled, giving me quite a scare.
But soon, the bear turned and headed away,
And I was spared a gruesome end.
But once again there was no water,
Although I’d avoided an ugly slaughter.
I took a moment to regain my composure,
And reconsider the task at hand.
I decided to change the plan and revamp,
If I wanted supper water at my nearby camp.
Once more I walked down to the creek,
And filled the pot again despite the leak.
Then I turned and headed back,
This time managing to stay on track.
It was still light when I got back to camp,
And I pulled another pot from my backpack.
I filled it with the water, covered it, and put it on to heat.
“Finally,” I thought, “I’m about to eat.”
While the water heated up,
I found the noodles in the bag.
Soon the liquid gently boiled,
But the water violently roiled.
The pot fell off the stove,
And the water poured onto the ground.
I pondered the scene and began to cry.
Then, soon thereafter I let out a sigh.
And so, I sat and feasted on dry noodles,
Ate chocolate powder with two pecans.
It wasn’t the meal I’d planned to eat,
But reckoned my quest for water had been a full defeat.
Audio Version:
I climb to a high place,
And savor the view,
So much to see,
My world seems anew.
Ground ripples below
Until it reaches a stream.
That’s flowing along
With water agleam.
Bright shiny reflection,
Small, but intense.
Catches my eye,
Creating suspense.
A big Douglas Fir,
Sways to and fro’.
Seems guarding something,
From what I don’t know.
Squirrel scampers across
A branch to my side.
It notices me,
And begins to chide.
The light moves on,
And the magnificent buck
That’s resting under a pine,
Looks more like a duck.
Out of the forest,
A trail comes forth.
Crosses below
And heads to the north.
Some animal runs,
Its movement a flash.
Then abruptly jumps into
The creek with a splash.
A rock falls from the cliff
Off to my right.
Its crash at the bottom
Creates quite a sight.
Above the horizon,
Beyond what I know,
Big mountains arise,
All capped in snow.
Where clouds meet the ground,
And land becomes sky.
The near disappears,
And far enters my eye.
Then, I realize,
That the things that I see.
Are simple, yet complex,
And all part of me.
Each time I gaze,
At the world all around.
The sights may be different,
But they always astound.
It’s heartening to know,
I have a role in the view.
I’m a cog in the world,
A part of the stew.
So, I stand up and turn,
Then go on my way.
Ready to face,
What comes as it may.
Audio Version:
Happy trails
And happy snails.
Happy whales
And happy tales.
Happy days
And happy craze.
Happy phrase
And happy stays.
Happy times
And happy chimes.
Happy climbs
And happy rhymes.
Happy sight
And happy night.
Happy light
And happy mite.
Happy spots
And happy dots.
Happy oughts
And happy thoughts.
Happy trail
And happy snail.
Happy whale
And happy tale.
Happy places
And happy faces.
Happy races
And happy spaces.
Happy talks
And happy walks.
Happy hawks
And happy squawks.
Happy sounds
And happy towns.
Happy bounds
And happy grounds.
Happy sights
And happy nights.
Happy lights
And happy mites.
Happy time
And happy chime.
Happy climb
And happy rhyme.
Happy songs
And happy throngs.
Happy Kongs
And happy wrongs.
Happy theres
And happy bears.
Happy wheres
And happy pairs.
Happy words
And happy nerds.
Happy birds
And happy herds.
Happy talk
And happy walk.
Happy hawk
And happy squawk.
Happy spot
And happy dot.
Happy ought
And happy thought.
Happy sappy
And happy yappy.
Happy snappy
And happy happy.
Audio Version:
Marching to the drummer
Across the canyon
From where I walk.
Rhythmic echoes, pounding drumbeats
Like the ticking
Of a clock.
Miles of trails and distant rivers,
Manzanitas, Oaks, and pines.
Hardened heels and herds of goats,
And long-forgotten mines.
The only time that matters,
Is how long until the night.
Move like the Raramuri,
Who keep following the light.
Dancing fiercely o’er the mesas,
With partners
Made of rock.
Often soaring skyward,
Flying freely
Like a hawk.
Layer upon layer
Of color fills the sky.
The magic of the distance
Inundates the eye.
Subtle tailwinds urge me forward
And gentle headwinds hold me back.
But like the local people,
I maintain an onward track.
Then the drumbeat fades away,
Yet still, the land has much to say.
I close my eyes and faintly hear
A beating heart that’s somewhere near.
I realize it’s underfoot,
The sound is rising
From the dirt!
It’s good to know
That even though
The drummers come and go.
The land I cross
Lives on and on,
And the beat is never gone.
Audio Version:
Let’s take the long way back,
And cross the river ‘round the bend.
If our feet get wet,
We can dry ‘em in the wind.
There’s a trail down there
That no one knows about.
And it leads to a fishin’ hole
That’s full of big ‘ole trout.
Since we’ve got our poles,
We can wet a line.
If you don’t have any flies,
You can use some of mine.
Once we’ve had our fill of that
We’ll head into the trees,
To a big red rock
With a view that’ll bring ya’ to your knees.
From there, we’ll keep goin’
‘Till we reach the Highline Trail.
We’ll take it through a meadow
Where I once got caught by hail.
Just on past that meadow, there’s a gully
Full of berries of some unknown type.
I don’t know much about ‘em,
‘Cept they taste good and should be ripe.
We’ll fill our bellies there
And when we’ve had our fill,
Head into some Aspens
And move on up the hill.
Our path will pass
By old cabins and mines.
And once up high,
There are Bristlecone Pines.
There’s a good sittin’ spot at the top,
Where we can take a break.
No doubt we’ll need to rest when we get there,
Since our legs will surely ache.
Then, we’ll walk along the treeline,
With the treetops down below.
Huge mountains fill that skyline
And the wildflowers steal the show.
As we walk along the tundra,
The lack of noise will astound.
There may be wind, or planes, or talk,
But the silence is profound.
Soon, we’ll reach the spot
Where the trail begins to drop
After passing through black timber,
We’ll reach the valley where we’ll stop.
Another river fills that valley,
And we’ll round another bend.
We’ll wade into the stream
And take the long way once again.
Audio Version:
Cast your shadow,
Moonlight bright.
Wake the moment,
Stir the night.
Treetops sparkle,
With muted light.
Boulders hiding,
On my right.
Something scampers,
Taking flight.
It’s small and quick,
With stripes of white.
Night sounds near,
But out of sight.
Do I run,
Or stand and fight?
A distant shriek,
Causes fright.
But nothing gets me,
And I’m all right.
To the campfire,
Still flickering bright.
Its guarding sphere,
A realm of light.
Flames mostly yellow,
A few are white.
At first, I stare
But then look right.
What is that there,
Beyond my sight?
Out in the darkness,
Of the night.
Unseen monsters,
I think to fight.
And once again,
I ponder flight.
Then magically,
There’s no more fright.
The monsters flee
It’s first daylight.
Audio Version:
Islands in the sea of life,
Respites to the strife.
Lean on back against a tree,
Daydream of what might be.
See the forests, touch the rocks,
Feel the dirt and watch a fox.
Drink a raindrop, hug the trees,
And savor every gentle breeze.
Walk the path, stay on the trail,
Don’t let the bumps your life derail.
Should a river block your way
Wade in and cross it, you’ll be okay
When a whirlwind grabs and sends
Your moments into dizzy spins.
Find your footing, breathe in deep,
You can count on nature, your soul to keep.
Audio Version:
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