In Grand Gulch 
Miles away and nestled 
On the canyon floor 
Existence without footprint- cigarette butt 
Asphalt absence burns our senses. 
City smells of metal -- motor 
Steam away. 

Apart 
We breathe the Utah sky 
30,000 feet above 
United Airline hums 
Then silence precedes desert breeze 
Dust sounds -- gnat drones 
Deer fly sucks spring hints 
And welcomes yellow willow bud. 

Our packs lean heavy on our backs 
Here among lost families 
Bronze nomadic wanderers 
Placed among the wind ground rocks 
Where all our roots began 

Slow caravan through slick rock 
Footprints near the cool grey micro-gamic turf 
Formations picked from pre-historic slime 
Time lapses endless, fragile 
Mankind’s beneath a giant’s foot 

Below the ridge we walk upon 
Scrub oak and yucca whisper 
Cheat grass grows 
Holding loosely in its desert grip 
Helium born 
The pink and tin-foil message 
‘Happy Birthday’ sits in silent wonder 
Bobs upon the tether 
Of a turquoise string 
In our scuffling rhythm 
We consider choices and continue on. 
 

copyright Barbara Torke 1999