Tumbled Granite

A poem inspired by hikes along the Taylor river and views of Otter Falls

          Tumbled Granite

         Grey shoulders shiver ‘neath
         caps and quilts of white
         that hint at icy trickles
         flowing hidden out of sight.

         Chill torrents tumble, o’er
         craggy drowning deeps.
         Dark glimpses glisten wetly
         as the foaming splashes leap.

         Swift currents slacken, the
         snow-melt in full flight.
         Dragonflies dart ‘round the tops
         of bald pates come to light.

         Sliding silver glints, flash
         bright and clean and cool,
         as slanting golden sun rays
         play on boulder bounded pools.

         Repeat . . .



Author's note: ▶︎

I started this poem way back in 1994. The first verse came to me almost in one thought. I wanted more than four lines, but felt stuck and set it aside. Twenty years later, I came across it again in an old notebook. I decided that I wanted to suggest the passage of the seasons and the fourth verse (autumn) came fairly quickly. It took another year to get the second and third verses to the point where I felt ready to share the 'final' result. I tweaked it again last year and now it's really done