Poetry in Nature

Our guide, Julie, read this poem which was written by a woman who had run the river with ARR.  It really is a perfect reflection on the experience.  One of the great surprises of the trip was enjoying the readings and poetry about the Canyon that our guides shared with us.  There were some not so flattering stories about Powell but the style of his writings from the late 1800's is amazing.  Just the attempt to describe the Canyon and the river in mere words is amazing.

Back to Civilization

So, I’m back in the city

And my friends all exclaim,

“So, you had a good time…

well, you look ‘in pain’

“Your lips are cracked,

and your hair’s like straw!

“Your legs are bruised,

and your knees are raw!

“Your nails are broken,

you’ve gained weight,

“How can you say

that your trip was great?

“Your sunburn’s peeling…

it sure is a “beaut’

“It looks like you’re wearing

a camouflage suit!

“So, you had a good time…

well, you ‘tell me’

“You look like you just came

through World War Three!”

“Listen,my friend said, carefully,

and I will tell you what this all means to me.”

“My bruises will fade,

and my bones will heal”

“My skin will be soft

underneath the peel”

“My hair will recover, and so will my lips”

“And I’ll get those 10 pounds off my hips”

“But the memories I’ve stored,

will not fade away”

“They will be with me,

to my dying day”

“The whitewater thrills,

and the red canyon walls”

“The Indian ruins,

and pure waterfalls”

“The fun with new friends,

and boatman tall tales:

“Boatman great cooking

and whitewater wails”

“Yes, the memories I’ve made will

not fade away”

“They will be with me,

to my dying day.”