Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SPEARFISH CANYON, by CORIE DAVIS HENTON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SPEARFISH CANYON, by                    
First Line: My camp fire smoke wreathes in and out the trees
Last Line: And rest, by nature soothed, carefree, content.
Subject(s): Camping; Canyons; Explorers; Camps; Summer Camps; Exploring; Discovery; Discoverers


My camp fire smoke wreathes in and out the trees
And drifts away upon the evening breeze.
On either side tall cliffs, rock-ribbed, arise
Lifting spires and towers against the skies.
Great pines the long gone ages left on guard,
Exploring, climb the heights erosion scarred,
And ever as they bow their heads and sway
I hear them whispering of time's mystery.

The nearby creek through deep-cut gorge cascades,
Tumbling in terraced falls under green arcades;
Here glide the finny tribes in countless dozens,
Rainbows, lochlevens, and all their mountain cousins;
Slim quaking aspen o'er the waters lean
Saucy brown-eyed Susans crowding in between;
And close in friendly groups tall birches stand
With arms outstretched to clasp a leafy hand.

Close to my tent a spring with tinkling sound,
Like tinsel from deep-caverned ice unwound,
Drips to a pool with mossy fern-fringed brink
Where wild wings dip and shy things come to drink.
Lush grasses wet with dew-shy violet faces;
The bolder flowers dance out in sunny places,
There tiger lilies flaunt their orange glow,
And crimson flashes where wild roses grow.

Cliff sparrows on their rocky door ledge poise,
I hear them neighboring with cheery noise.
Through leafy screen a deer makes sudden dash,
Scarce seen ere gone, all in a tawny flash.
A chattering squirrel from out his tree descends,
A chipmunk scurries close, they would be friends.
I breathe my camp fire's pungent scent
And rest, by nature soothed, carefree, content.





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