ARCHES AND CANYONS

This is the second podcast following our trip through national parks and local hikes.  In this episode we are in Utah, where we stayed 5 days in Moab, exploring the area before moving on to Mesa Verde.

Transcript

ARCHES AND CANYONS

This is the second podcast following our trip through national parks and local hikes.  In this episode we are in Utah, where we stayed 5 days in Moab, exploring the area before moving onto Mesa Verde.

THE ARCHES

Pictographs and petroglyphs

Old Wolfe’s cattle ranch 

100 acres on Salt Marsh

show it is possible to live

in this stony garden

of arches and towering rocks

with a thousand names.

early morning

towards Delicate arch

balanced on the edge of a ledge

the wedding couple kiss

like miniature dolls

under the massive rock.

Waiting on the west 

 of the double window arches

the sun sets

the people leave

the silence arrives

and arches glow

alive again with fire.

inside Devil's garden

I meet Ganesh

the elephant god

in the form

of another arch.

He tells me 

my time in the Arches

is complete

it’s time to eat.

CANYONLANDS - ISLAND IN THE SKY

Everyone comes to sunrise

at Mesa Arch

as the sun bursts out

the Inner arch is transformed

into a flaming orange.

framing the distant peaks and canyons

in their shades of blues and violets.

Breathing in the beauty

not a word is spoken

we are all absorbed 

in nature’s magic moment,

available every morning

to the early risers.

Reminding me

making that extra effort

Taking that extra step

opens up eyes and hearts

to the extraordinary gifts,

the wondrous beauty

outside and inside,

waiting to be given 

as we open ourselves

to receiving.

ROUTE 279

Along the river road

Above our heads

Painted pictographs

Pecked petroglyphs

some created

2000 years ago.

Across the Potash rail spur

into the Navajo formation.

sand dunes 

180 million years ago 

now a world of ladders and chains

climbing to 

Bowtie and Corona Arches 

waiting for human presence.

I relish this moment,

solitude and silence 

as the sun rises.

before families and dogs,

slowly appear,

as I return again

to route 279.

CANYONLANDS - THE NEEDLES FROM ABOVE

The pair of mule deer

freeze and stare

we stop and stare back

on our way.

Looking down, far down

framed by twisted junipers

there they are:

needles, canyons

layers of geological history.

patches of green

in a parched vista

sand cone pyramids

winding dirt roads

a wilderness now recovering

from uranium hunters

open to new adventurers.

Not us this time,

Moving on

like Pueblo Indians

to Mesa Verde.

MESA VERDE

High above the park sign

we see

Mesa Verde

The green table

Home of Peublo indians

for 700 years.

Looking and Listening,

Imagining the lives lived

working the land

squash, corn and beans.

Hunting deer and rabbits

building cave dwellings

creating baskets and pottery.

Looking across the gorge

seeing the layers of the building

rooms and temples

Kivas for ceremonies.

The palace fills the cliff

150 rooms of many shapes and sizes

leaves me wondering

why did they leave?

Whatever the reasons

they are alive today

through their ancestors.

Hopi, Zuni, Laguna, Acoma

and in the pueblos

along the Rio Grande.

I honor their gifts

I give thanks for their presence

in the land of Mesa Verde.


PLEASE Visit www.the walking poet.net and see the photos in the Season 2 web page!

©MartinStrasmore2021

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