by David S.
Member since:
January 14, 2008

Canyon Lesson

March 01, 2008 01:42 PM EST
views: 52 | rating: 10/10 (15 votes) | comments: 22
Another poem for all you desert rats!


Lesson

I ask these canyon walls
what they would have me learn
this time.

I feel their answer in the language
of whisper of wind and silence and stone and sky,
yielding only to water and time and many footsteps.

Their silence humbles
humbles
humbles me
Their voices honor me.



* * *

Long ago, my grandfather taught me how to "talk" to a canyon wall, and each time I hike, I do so. It's always a pleasant conversation!
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Comments: 22

Patricia F. Mar 1, 2008, 1:48pm EST
Teach us, David, how to talk to the canyon walls. I think I know. You don't have to talk out loud. Just study the face, listen to the whisper of the trees that try to hang onto the sides, study the stone wrinkles...know that time really tells us something...is that it? You humble me....such a beautiful, peaceful poem.
flit . Mar 1, 2008, 2:07pm EST
you make me want to go visit a desert - just to try it ... talking to a canyon wall, I mean
David S. Mar 1, 2008, 2:46pm EST
Like Pat said, flit, patience and time and very astute listening!
Linda K. Mar 1, 2008, 2:54pm EST
This is wonderful David. Two days ago, I layed down on the ground and talked to a forest of redwoods.
David S. Mar 1, 2008, 2:57pm EST
Redwoods? I did that in Muir Woods a couple of years ago. My kids found me and thought I was asleep or dead. "No, just talking to the trees."
David S. Mar 1, 2008, 5:10pm EST
Flit, you can do this anywhere. Redwoods, canyon walls... Many people find the ocean very garrulous!
Digital Diva S. Mar 1, 2008, 6:31pm EST
Thanks for posting this to Best Original Photos, Art and Writing for 2008.
Patricia F. Mar 1, 2008, 9:35pm EST
I did the same , david at Muir Woods! I loved the way the smell of the sequoia and the eucalyptus blended in the air there...and those trees. magic! Thanks for taking me there again!
Kimberly Ripley Mar 1, 2008, 9:45pm EST
Lovely poem....thanks for sharing your memory of your grandfather. It's a nice one!
Lacey K. Mar 2, 2008, 11:34am EST
I love this, David.
Ginny A. Mar 2, 2008, 2:32pm EST
Lovely.
Nancy 67 Mar 3, 2008, 1:52pm EST
Very well written, David! "If canyon walls could talk", eh? ;-D ...and they do!
TD (aka: JaneDough) Mar 3, 2008, 2:22pm EST
Very nice.
René Allen Mar 18, 2008, 9:24am EDT
I love what Patricia had to say about Canyon Lessons.

Beautifully written David.

Blessings ~
Rene
Linda K. Mar 18, 2008, 12:08pm EDT
David, I am only now reading your reply to my telling you I layed down and talked to a forest of redwoods. The redwoods I was referring to was Muir Woods.
David S. Mar 18, 2008, 11:26pm EDT
Maybe we were there together, and didn't even know it!
Good-bye A. Mar 19, 2008, 10:28am EDT
Beautiful! And yes you can do it anywhere. I have several places.
Linda K. Mar 19, 2008, 12:24pm EDT
Yes, David, I was in Muir Woods a few days ago ~ and you stated your visit was two years ago. But with you, I realize time travel is possible. Aha! I'll bet that's what the mechanical drawing is of on your "I AM" page -- a time travel machine!
David S. Mar 19, 2008, 2:27pm EDT
Aha! So THAT's what it is! Thanks for the tip, Linda!

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