Canyon Country
Sand, rock, shrubs, and sky
An arid seemingly barren land
A quiet desert
That keeps much to herself
But the careful footprints
Of a mountain lion
And the full murky waters
Of perfectly sculpted potholes
Begin to share
Secrets of abundance
They softly speak of a rich life
Where creatures seek shelter
In rocky outcroppings
Where trees sprout
Straight out of boulders
Where wide, dry, canyon floors
Transition quickly to golden narrow slots
That squeeze tight
And steeply drop
Into deep pools
Only to open once again
Onto sandy shelves
Majestically surrounded
By hoodoos and arches
Each millennia carved layer
Housing wisdom filled memories
That illuminate time
In a manner much greater
Than the brevity
Of the human experience
How vast
How powerful
Is the simple passing of time?
