Hiking in the sun is
Less than fun
But it is instructive
The dangers controlled with
Sleeves, hat, water and sun screen
Special shoes to keep feet firmly on the trail
It’s the length of the challenge
A marathon of finishing
I start, hopeful
Imagining myself an explorer
A naturalist, a women of the wild
But soon my mind asks
How long?
When will it be over?
How could I?
Hiking is so virtuous
Environmental and healthy
But fun?
Not exactly
Too much vigilance is required
Rocks to trip
Vicious cactus to scratch and draw blood
Keep eyes and thoughts down
On the ground
Focused and concentrating
For long, very long minutes
There is the conversation
Challenged by single file
The questions, comments and musings
About topography, geology and botony
The best is the philosophical reflection
The exploration of the constant metaphors
About life
Taking wrong paths
Not reading the signs
Tempted by less travelled trails
Unmarked by wisdom
Perhaps travelled by fools
There is failing to look up
Fixated on the path
Too intent on avoiding risk
To see the beauty of the panorama
The sky, the vista and possibilities
Perhaps losing faith in finishing
Famished by the load
Dried by the sun
Exhausted by the climb
Losing joy in the journey
Wanting only the end
Finally it does end
Back to the parking lot
And the question
How was it for you?
Did you like it?
And the response?
Of course
Ya it was great!
What trail should we try next?
1 comment:
Jackie and I enjoyed this poem. We had an interesting conversation about hiking metaphors (I thought it was a conversation but Jackie says it was more of a lesson). She is trying to come up with what she will write about next.
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