The Hike

Alum rock vale , alum rock vale
on the south rim trail

Busy base; grottos, fonts replete
teeming humanity, the chaos complete
Here we go, here we go
sticks, hats, gusto in toe

singing,
"Alum rock vale, alum rock vale
on the south rim trail"

Green serene mother nature's face
clime supreme, setting amicable a pace
smoke-of-fire bushes meet
meandering paths hug and greet

wishing,
"Alum rock vale, alum rock vale
on the south rim trail"

Serpentine, circuitous trail I tread
nervy androcles, impending catamounts I dread
The huff, the puff, sweet sweat to tend
playful branches, infamous ticks to contend

still,
"Alum rock vale, alum rock vale
on the south rim trail"

Balding, sun-baked fetching scape
the far end, with ocular aid I gape
Proud eagles, beautiful, higher they soar
His love warm, bountiful, and more

Done, down the acclivity I slide, I scurry
Aunt gravity snubs mother earth in a hurry
feet feat finished, homewards I steer
perched pretty, singing birds I hear

"Alum rock vale, alum rock vale
on the south rim trail"

High of low

Vestiges from beyond and yore
on a fleeting wind they blow
bitter sweet memories to the fore
the face of 'then' they show

The comfort of a moist eye
puppet heart stringed to pain
stifle I, a cathartic cry
this loss, my winningest gain

Black ink blotches the mind
a soaking sheet smeared
agaze eyes, I pleasantly find
the time a sonnet appeared

Vestiges from beyond and yore
on a breezy wind they blow
spent memories to the fore
dying embers, stoked they glow

High moves the frame
low stirs the soul
brilliant burns the flame
mellow smoulders the coal

Devilish walls the thought falls
plunging depths of the well
holy water, the saviour hauls
thirsty soul to quell

Vestiges from beyond and yore
on a blustery wind they blow
tossing-turning far from the shore
crests appear on a trough...the high of being low

- for this tragic comedy that is life