Know-Love-Obey God

Back from a long vacation at Mesa Verde National Park to see the Cliff Dwellings, then to see beloved friends in Tucson, Arizona.

For this week’s Random Act of Poetry (the “random” is more difficult; I seem to do better with a prompt):

“Cliff Dweller”
Home built into canyon face, dwellings on a ledge,
Built on rock foundation.
Rock is ceiling; rock is wall.
Women kneel to grind the corn; children live on edge.

Farming men climb, loads on bare backs,
Climb up vertical path, agile confidence
Calmly grasping hand- and toe-holds,
Daily making upward tracks.

Choosing to live a step away,
Only a stumble away from falling to death.
Did their knees tremble at the heights?
No; they chose to dwell, to stay.

Then, maybe I can have no fear
When I am on the edge.
If I remember, Don’t look down!
I think that I can thrive here.

“Saguaro Cactus”
Threescore years to reach
Dinosaur height.
Threescore years before reaching
Arms skyward.
Sharp exterior protects, hides
What’s tender inside.
Like the owl, I seek
Its refuge-friendship.