Poem: Vernal

Vernal

Built entirely of motion

hydro, oxy, Newton’s apple

glacial knife, geologic freak show

flight     freedom     fall

A beautiful Assyrian girl hops

the rail for a photo, for

proof: the arduous climb, the

buzz of Yosemite, a hundred

granite steps

The water is merry, bucolic,

a lie.

What follows is anyone’s guess:

slick of algae, worn

spot on a shoe, loose rock

Her two male friends try to save her.

Two weeks later, they have

yet to find the bodies.

Late at night, the hikers give

way to bats and bears.

A lone figure approaches the

rail, reaches into a granite

slot and pulls a switch

The water drops away like a severed curtain,

lands with a ropy smack,

drains off toward Modesto

He drinks the silence,

takes a glance at

Half Dome’s broad shoulder and

sets his watch for five.

 

From the collection Fields of Satchmo
Photo by MJV