Hannigans Pass
We exhale into the canyon, grateful
for the downhill, for the promise of a campsite one bend
away. An hour later, out of breath and heaving
we start the actual decent.
We arrive to a steady stream, and a quiet
campsite, just us and the birds, the threat
of bear, always somewhere nearby. We
eat anyways, have a fire, and I finish
a book about going insane in nature, because
of man, and then as twilight arrives, we fall
asleep under the easy orange sweep of our tent,
and wake at 2 AM, to screams, angry
or joyous, I’m not sure.
You grab the bear spray
and sit upright, they settle slowly
around us with loud voices and feet.
People, at least 8, a little drunk maybe, setting
up camp in the dark, a few feet away.
We fall asleep again eventually and wake to
silence, an empty campground again
a little more litter filled than it was,
when we went to sleep.
I love the sweeping connectedness of this poem — from “a book about going insane in nature, because
of man” to an actual group of drunken group of campers waking you up.
Such evocative images! I especially loved
“asleep under the easy orange sweep of our tent,”
Thank you so much!
Your last line encapsulates the poem so well. Lots of breathless fed by emotion, the allure of quietude given taken and given again, gr8 details. Well done!
Thank you so much!
I found this one kind of funny. Everything seems so peaceful and “civilization” so far away and then, wham, it appears right next to you. At least they were gone by morning.
Thank you so much!
you took me there right with you Caitlin,, the connection made to the book describing nature wrt man and then men creating more furor in person.. all so well flowing 🙂
Thank you!
The images are so clear!
Thank you!
This poem tells me all I need to know about camping..something I long to do in the abroad
Refreshing!
Thank you!
I can see this as a book, complete with sketches as you go on this adventure. Good job with the imagery!
Thank you!
Picturesque, vivid, peaceful, adventurous!
The reading is filled with images as the mind puts a shape to the descriptions and gets out there in the open with the poet…
Perfect for a rainy day out here…
This poem could have ended badly-
great suspense to the end!
makes me want to go camping
i will leave my picnic basket at home.
Admirable work Caitlin. I’ll admit that i didn’t quite catch the essence of the poem off the bat, but as i read through it became clear. Very intelligently written with more intended care to the creative freedom of ghe art itself of course. The theme if nature being upset by humanity rings true in a variety of ways. Gorgeous work✨️