haiku 128

dog days linger on

until the last sky-blue lake

has gone to the dogs

–photo by me

organized religion (tanka)

many are turning

their backs on the church today–

to find god themselves

for organized religion

has sown seeds of discontent

–photo by me

shot of the day 9/7/22

three unlikely pals

making secret plans

for incredible journeys

beyond the farm lands

–photo by me

Bench (shadorma)

There’s a bench

I use for thinking,

Tucked neatly

In the trees,

Where chimes are always tinkling

Sweetly in the breeze

–Photo by me

lavender mist

a fog rises up

from the waters,

dawn lights it up

from behind,

the morning

is kissed by this

lavender mist,

and it gives

to me true

peace of mind

–photo by me

Limerick 42

A vixen from outside Fort Knox,

Found her marriage to be on the rocks,

But she would recover

And find a new lover,

For after all, she was a fox.

–Photo by Aaron

creeks and clouds (archives)

creeks and clouds

cut from the same cloth

with different points of view

comparable in composition

yet contrary in composure

the creek is quite laid-back

to the point of being lazy

while the clouds are always

up in the air over something

–photo by me

Echo Trail

We’re north of Ely, MN this cloudy morning, and just entering the BWCA (Boundary Waters Canoe Area) on this old dirt road called the Echo Trail. It winds through the boreal forest for 50 miles or so, a trail cut out between massive jutting rocks and endless little lakes. Our destination is Voyageurs National Park on the Canadian Border.

Apparently, a lot of hikers pass through here. There are people biking it, and a few cars (with their obligatory canoes) suddenly popping up on the roller-coaster corners, but mostly it’s just pristine wilderness of rocks, trees, and lakes. I hope the sky clears soon.

I can’t believe that there are people (not many) who actually live out here. I wouldn’t stop for gas at this place– there’s probably some weird kid up there playing *Dueling Banjos* on the porch. We’re about to come to the end of the trail, and the sky is clearing.

Finally, we made it. The clouds and forest are behind us, and there’s nothing but blue waters under blue skies here. It’s breathtakingly beautiful. I’ve visited a number of national parks, but this is the first that has its roadside sign on a rock at the edge of a lake. We should’ve brought a canoe!

–photos by me