Harvesting Water

Box Canyon to Longmire, Wonderland Trail on Mt. Rainier. Two brothers on the wonder trail. After record snowfalls, after losses, water washing. 13-mile leg of trail. August, 2017

FROM BOX CANYON TO LONGMIRE

A LEG ON THE WONDERLAND TRAIL

Shutter speed priority

on the stone

deciding to stay, falling,

not falling,

the water. Finishing

something in each of us

Aware/un-aware

as we change into boots

in a parking lot

before heading into

wonderland,

into wonder space.

After five hours

of elevation gain,

the trail levels off

at Reflection Lakes.

Fields of wild flowers,

Queen Anne's Lace, Daisy,

Blue Bells, and Paint Brush,

all flush with bees,

and blueberries!

My brother says,

I'm kind of goofy.

I'm fine with that.

That's me.

Jim Bodeen

August, 2017

COMET FALLS HIKE, MOUNT RAINIER

My brother only slows

for Salmon Berries, ripe and orange,

mid week, mid August, he knows

this mountain where we bring

what we've lost, feet on the ground,

paradise with switchbacks

and elevation gain, only

a couple of miles off road,

and after a record snowfall

we arrive in time

harvesting water and light.

So much light inside the light.

Milton talked about this

and we remember, this light

interpenetrating light.

He was talking about angels

and how they make love

without elbows and knees.

Water over us and on us,

my brother surrounded,

light-soaked, takes one step

towards the vision

receiving him. He wobbles

once, unbalanced,

trekking poles

holding him to stone.

Jim Bodeen

15-18 August 2017