MORNING AT HIGH CAMP

Ski in early. Cold, mid-20s and fog.

Solo day. Left notebook on floor

by the butterscotch chair. Ski

through a scattering of men

heading for Hogback, back country.

Last night’s dream surfacing.

Visiting my friend in his mountain home,

New to him and his wife. I’ve forgotten

a housewarming gift. Sitting with coffee,

remembering the dream with apple,

sea salt caramels. I’ll save Maggie’s

home-made pork tamales for later.

Window table, varnished pine, High Camp.

The Mountain in clouds. Bly’s New Moon

title page opposite blank page I write on,

his Chinese poems preparing me

for his stunningly gorgeous

Collected Poems waiting beside my chair.

Waiting for my readiness.

My grandkids grow into another life

off skis, not with me this morning.

New boots in molded stiff plastic,

heat-fitted to my foot, working out.

Still empty tables on second floor.

I gambled on this, a Saturday,

settling on Bly’s poems from mid-70s,

Old Man Rubbing his Eyes. Sound

of ski boots on ground floor,

recalling horses in mid-west barns.

Bly’s ears hearing tinier, animal

things. The man across from me

drinks an amber glass of beer

from plastic cup. I bring my own mug

leaving it in camp kitchen. I’ve brought

chocolates for lift operators. A friend

of my daughters, mid-40s, comes over,

sits down, tells me about a podcast.

I offer him a chocolate. He's listened

to men in their 80s and 90s talking

about their most vibrant moments,

he asks me about mine. Swimming

in a Wyoming creek at 48, I felt

like I was above tree line, entering

my 50s. Big stuff, still. But felt,

and still feel, underage in my 70s.

The Solo hike on the Wonderland Trail,

sat me down, made me understand some things.

I ask him, my young friend,

what he thinks about sound systems

blasting music from speakers by chair lifts.

Do you consider this might be sound pollution

violating contract with the Forest Service?

I show my friend the title of Bly’s poems.

He asks me, Are you rubbing your eyes?

Jim Bodeen

5-6 January 2019