There Was a River

Once, there was a river
Whose annual flood
Swept the banks clean
Tore out old vegetation
And left wide beaches
And a rich, fertile soil.

Today my banks are overgrown
Into huge, speculative derivatives

To Boldy Duckie...

I have navigated, alone, the entire Grand Canyon, from Lee's Ferry to Pearce Ferry. 279 miles. 70-something named rapids. As many again unnamed rapids and "riffles" that would be considered class three rapids on any other river. I made it through most of them fine, and only portaged once, at Lava Falls, where at low water there was no left line. Enormous waves, man eating holes, jagged rocks, fangs, sucks, and boils. Arizona bark scorpions. I had never done the Grand Canyon before. And I have completed the journey there. My experience was a combination of great joy as well as trepidation, as I cautiously made my way down stream, scouting every marked rapid, and firmly adhering to my own superstitious rituals, as luck was suddenly a thing I was very conscious of. Each night for the fist 180 or so miles I wondered if that dinner would be my last. I thought about people I knew, and I thought deep thoughts that looked into myself. Yes, my vacation. In the morning I'd sleep in late, read my books of literature and geology, enjoy my coffee, and shove off to find out what was around the bend.

My humility, ultimately, was rewarded, as the Canyon allowed me to pass through it, with only six flips...

Red Velvet Cafe

How does one think
Inside the Red Velvet Cafe?
The rattle of that AC
The phone ringing at your counter
The constant pop music
Just a few notches too high
So that one must raise one's voice
To speak over it.
The customers
Trying to use the wrong door
And order at the wrong counter

What good is this espresso bar
With Wifi only for the credit card machine?

Endless mountains
And palm trees blowing in the wind...
Look away
There's enough going on in here already
This huge salad doesn't fit on its small plate
It will take all my concentration
Not to spill it.

For eighteen days I stared at water.
Water that will kill me.
Rocks that will break me
And tear holes in my boat.

Silent Ancient Canyons
That have never talked
In a million years.
And the only thing
That existed in the whole universe
Was the angle
And the speed of the water...