High Country Sky

This poem reflects my thoughts last Saturday morning on my walk. As I was experiencing it, I made mental notes then put those notes in my phone for later. I knew I had the urge to write about it, but was definitely feeling like it was a poem. Once I started it all just flowed. That was cool. It took about a half hour total, so I felt quite accomplished. Funny how stuff gets in my head and HAS to come out like Jade nosing my leg to take her out for a walk...which is where this all started... 

HIGH COUNTRY  SKY

I walked out in the morning with my dog at my side

The sun dazzled and teased me and said, “Look at this sky!”

This is the color of blue that paint chips wish to be

The sparkling clear blue of a baby’s eyes 

“Look at these clouds!” Prompts the sun again

Made for a storybook where a child sees animal shapes

Perfectly serene, gentle, just happily passing the time

(The sun is clearly relishing in its contribution to this enchanting scene)

So I sank deeper into awareness…

The Hyacinth that greeted me when I left my door

So fragrant and deceptively alive, despite their plastic dollar store appearance

Those daffodils that just shed an inch of snow 

Still standing, defiant and proud

This country road with a small stream trickling

Frogs calling back and forth in their secret code

A hawk screeching as it flies from its nest and another answers it

“Idyllic”, I think is the unfortunate cliche to describe it

But I can think of no better descriptor

Again the sky and clouds call me back:

Remember…?

It seems it’s a memory I can’t quite touch

This is the kind of sky you see in the high country, it hints

You’ve seen it before; you’ve experienced its magic before

It’s there, the feeling this sky brings to my conscience

More than once, and always a perfect day in nature:

With Dad, wading up a frigid fishing stream 

Eating salami sandwiches and fresh peaches at a fire lookout

With Merl…happily adventuring when we were youngsters

At Grayhorse, yes, this one stands out…there is a photo…

The black pickup, him kneeling nearby starting a fire to cook up our can of beans

Idyllic…that word again, but how else do you describe a day like that?

I can touch that memory now, it’s all there

A brief stint of time travel that touches my grateful heart

That sky! Those clouds! And the sun so pleased with itself!