Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Seeking The Muse” by: rob kistner © 4/16/24
Peering over the cliff’s edge
high above the churning fall
of the steel-blue stream
I point
look down my friend
watch that trout
with the svelte grace of a dancer
it slides in then out again
gently flexing in the soft break
of a stream-bed boulder’s shade
look there
I call attention
across the stone canyon
cut by this persistence of current
an Osprey lights a branch
a focused sentinel
measuring the timing and tactic
of his imagined next meal
let us go to the water
down the steep granite face
through the white aspen and Douglas fir
giant chinquapin and Oregon madrone
I descend at steady pace
bent-knee’d and cautious
I throttle and steer
with boot tread and trek staff
followed by a fine-dust slide
of chattering limestone pebble
and dry needle
clattering the rip rap
down to the stream-side grass patch
then alertly hop
rock to rock
‘cross the tumble
of crystal chill current
to where I’ll make camp
in this wilderness canyon
midst the quiet rush
of the Clackamas waters
and the hushed murmur
of tall Ponderosa bough
I settle
OK Gary
you’ve tagged along
all afternoon my friend
pestering my thoughts
with the urge of verse
so here is the perfect spot
to stop
to rest and meditate
mesmerized by this eden
taking seat on a downed Douglas
I inhale deeply
nature’s wonderful wild bouquet
exhaling the stress of the day
my soul feels a presence
still with me
the presence of a kindred spirit
quieting my core
I build a small fire
task done
I close my eyes
and peacefully wait
enjoying the crackle of logs
and the voice of the stream
a breeze stirs
nudging the flames
opening my eyes
so — Mr Snyder
what’s on our mind
Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Conversing The Muse”
by: rob kistner © 4/16/24
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rob kistner © 2024
Poetry at: dVerse
Poetry at: NaPoWriMo 2024 — Day 16
I enjoyed your conversational poem addressed to a beat poet, Rob, with its imperatives to point the addressee/reader in the direction of wonderful sights of nature. I especially love the trees in the lines:
‘down the steep granite face
through the white aspen and Douglas fir
giant chinquapin and Oregon madrone’
and the sounds in the lines:
‘…chattering limestone pebble
and dry needle
clattering the rip rap’.
A great place to write.
Thank you Kim, glad you enjoyed this… 🙂
“I descend at steady pace bent-knee’d and cautious” ~~~ The way WE do it in Oregon! Great write, Rob.
Wonderful dreams of yesteryear. Been many years since I was able to climb down into a canyon to fish a stream. If I tried that move nowadays I would just tumble down the cliff side, into the water and drown — though I would likely be dead before I ever hit the water. Oh well… sigh…
Ohhhh… that Gary! Of course.
Thank you for that lovely hike!
You are most welcome Donna… 🙂
I can feel how nature itself is the poet you walk with.
Always Björn, and Gary Snyder is usually not far off… 🙂
This is absolutely exquisite, Rob! I especially love; “let us go to the water down the steep granite face through the white aspen and Douglas fir.” Thank you so much for writing to the prompt 🙂
Thank you Sanaa, and you are most welcome… 🙂
Love this one Rob. What a wonderful place to have that conversation. Nature heals us beautifully and takes away all our stress.
Thank you Grace… 🙂 …and yes does my friend, yes it certainly does.