AUTUMN IN THE JEMEZ/imaginary gardens with real toads

AUTUMN IN THE JEMEZ

Yes, it was that day

The one we have 

All been waiting for

A sweet day in autumn

We were hiking in the Jemez

In a canyon

With tall dried grasses

Suddenly we heard

Sounds bouncing

Off canyon walls

It was hard to tell 

Where it was coming from

Soft hoots

Echoing back and forth

We hurried our steps

Was it up ahead

What was it

Then we saw the sandhill cranes

Making their migratory

Journey

To the Bosque

Later we were told

Because of the waves

From Los Alamos 

The cranes become lost

They must circle several times

To find their way

It is true for humans too

Sometimes we must

Try more than once 

To find our way

July 30, 2018