Monday, October 24, 2011

Under The Burn Of Going Without

All year long my skin whitened under the burn of going without. -No travel in the most beautiful and aesthetic vehicle I know -no slap of wave against it’s hull -no satin surface to carve with the wood of paddle -no taste of that freedom only a river or lake affords -only obligations and responsibilities ate at any true sense of that freedom


until i went alone

the big boisterous sky ahead

under a hot mid-October sun

on a rocky outcropping

in a Thermarest with

a beer

and a smoke

above the lip of Lake Umbagog

my skin ripening

my legs crossed

the wave against rock

discussing their fears

of the weakening economy

the ignited hills above

gesturing towards the south

its orange airline traffic lights waving

the lone kayak passing by

complimenting the earth on her choice of weather

the tandem canoe in the distance clearly loafing in the sun

the bow adrift in no direction

the sequence skirt of the lake’s surface

showing off her goods

and my eyes when closed

were starry against the bright red

of that smoldering day

hot enough for a swim













“Time is an enormous, long river, and I’m standing in it, just as you’re standing in it. My elders are the tributaries, and everything they thought and every struggle they went through and everything they gave their lives to, and every song they created, and every poem that they laid down flows down to me – and if I take the time to ask, and if I take the time to see, and if I take the time to reach out, I can build that bridge between my world and theirs. I can reach down into that river and take out what I need to get through this world”

2 comments:

Colby said...

I’ve read over your blog personally in our search for the annual Justbackpacksonline Outdoors Blog competition and have decided to nominate it in the Top 100 blogs.
The list was determined by content, updates, and the advice that you provide to the outdoors community. If you would like to learn more about the contest and accept your badge,and read about the prizes please visit: http://www.justbackpacksonline.com//store/pg/192-Justbackpackonline-s-Annual-Blogging-Challenge.html
Thanks and good luck!

Manila Tour Packages said...

Lovely photos...I love the pic of the blue and calm water of the river. Keep on posting!