09 March 2015

The Hike


Raptor Ridge, once scaled, 
sets a vista 
flung to the horizon,
nature unbounded,
Mt. Baker on the skyline, 
dappled ferns on Rock Trail, strong sun

on mountain and stone, 
steep terrain, difficult
to navigate, demands switchbacks,
a sweep herds stray hikers 
to Chuckanut Ridge for 
final views of this wide sky.


Posted for DJan for her ongoing example to stay active and for Anna at dVerse poets, Meeting the Bar, who gave us three approaches to create a new poem. One is Reduction and although she suggested we use our own work I was taken by a post of DJan who writes at DJan-ity about her weekly hikes with a group of elder hikers in Washington state. It contained such wonderful names that I wanted to use them in a poem. Who could resist Raptor Ridge? She was the "sweep" in their latest hike staying last in line to keep the group intact. I don't want to reduce her description which you can read here but couldn't help feeling a part of it and inspired. 

20 comments:

  1. hey i read that one...smiles
    and fun that you played off djan....i bet it makes her smile
    she def is an inspiration...

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    1. I love reading about her hiking and sky-diving. She's forging a good path.

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  2. Yes Raptor Ridge is a perfect name.. and what a place to explore for a vista.. a strenuous hike that pay off with a view... my legs start to itch with your words.

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    1. I've done some great hikes in my days so I know what you mean about the itchy legs.

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  3. That must be quite a view of the sky and horizon ~ I can't wait for the strong sun to stay over at my part of the world ~

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    1. DJan's photos are always a treat. There's a spectacular one of the view from the top.

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  4. Very cool. I "know" those places too, thanks to DJan, and it was fun to read a poetic take on her experiences.

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    1. It's one of the joys of blogging that we get to know places, activities and people that we wouldn't otherwise.

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  5. The place names are wonderful and beg to be made into poetry, nicely done!

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    1. I thought so as well when I read DJan's post.

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  6. Yours was a great idea, reducing someone's prose and turning it into a poem. I like that you kept the names of thr hike and shared its beauty with us.

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    1. I wasn't sure if it was on the mark but I had a good time doing it.

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  7. Ah, I am familiar with this part of Washington State. It makes me want to see Mount Baker and Chuckanut Ridge again!

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    1. She had such wonderful photos of those places.

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  8. oh very cool.. i love a good hike - and even more if it's such beautiful landscape and magical names...

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    1. Me too. It's one of the activities that gets me excited.

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  9. Hey Mary--pretty cool to look back on a peak once climbed! i try to stay active but not enough--this works very well as a reduced (not reduced but condensed and distilled) poem--thanks--it is inspiring.k. (manicddaily)

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    1. Distilled- I like it. I lik walking and hiking but have found (in my 60's) that I love running.

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  10. Lovely to revisit-- I am stuck in the city this weekend feeling very inactive! K.

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