A Poetic Place by JBM

For the last forty plus years I have hiked, birded, and recorded wildflowers throughout the seasons along the multiple portions of 9-Mile Creek. My favorite trail leads from Harrison Park to the Minnesota River. It is an awesome trail with its meandering path providing inspiration to photographers, painters, and poets. While there are many bike trails, there are few such places which provide such an opportunity for serenity and creative expression. Just this week, I wrote the following in an attempt to capture the “poetry of place”, a view from the upper trail. It’s titled, “An Island on a Hill”. (please note that the original layout of the poem doesn't seem to work in this space.)

Her steep banks slope softly to the east,

catching the morning rays and warmth of sunlight;

far below the creek meanders to the river.

Hush, now. Hear the water’s music rushing over rocks!

Up here an empty bench waits:

inviting calm, peace, reflection without

mirrors, a familiarity like old slippers.

Countless number of years, I have made

my way to this sacred place;

arriving here today is like a joyous

reunion with an old friend.

I laugh thinking how in my youth

I barreled up the steep wooded path,

now, simply grateful for the hiking poles

aiding my climb.

I inhale the view before me

longing to paint this scene,

forever capturing the beauty of the

the moment but I only have words.

Here airy fairylike prairie larkspur sway

with a musicality all their own;

their lightness seeming to nullify

the heavily laden lead plants,

soon to swell in lavender pink radiance,

among the fiery butterfly weeds.

Winding my way through this prairie island,

surveying the flowers, grasses, and insects,

the short path leads me back to the bench,

inviting bird song, time to sit, to miss

a life gone before me, friends and family lost,

dreams yet to fill, words to write,

hope to give to those who think

beauty is gone and a prayer that

this prairie jewel endures.