Goanna on Kangaroo Island by Rafaella Del Bourgo A six-foot-long lizard like a log obstructing the rutted road, muscular tail, and claws for shredding, two hundred million years old. His tongue flicks out into the air. As he swings his head toward me and lifts his body, I hurry into my car and slam theContinue reading “Rafaella Del Bourgo, Goanna on Kangaroo Island”
Category Archives: natural wonders
Revisiting Joshua Tree National Park by Carolyn Martin
Revisiting Joshua Tree National ParkTwentynine Palms, Californiaby Carolyn Martin Joshua fit the battle of JerichoAnd the walls come tumblin’ down . . . — An African-American spiritual The terrain hasn’t changed. The Cap still tilts.The Skull glares over a parking lot.The Jumbo Rocks? This careless pile nudgedfrom eons underground lazes in theContinue reading “Revisiting Joshua Tree National Park by Carolyn Martin”
Antelope Canyon, Arizona by Jeanie Greenfelder
Antelope Canyon, Arizonaby Jeanie Greenfelder Our Navajo guide Mike shows no mercyfor the fourteen greenhorns in his Jeep.On this bucking bronco, we bounceacross the red desert to Antelope Canyon, a slot canyon with tall, narrow passagewayscarved by rain eroding sandstone.Mike points to graffiti and bullet holesfrom before the Tribe took charge. He sticks to hisContinue reading “Antelope Canyon, Arizona by Jeanie Greenfelder”
Overnight at White Pocket by Cynthia Anderson
Overnight at White Pocket by Cynthia Anderson You sleep if you can, a blanket of cold stars pulled over your head— then rise before dawn to catch the first rays lighting those pale and painted rocks—swirled concretions of bygone dunes, shaped by wind and snow and rain, like the storm that blew in yesterday, castingContinue reading “Overnight at White Pocket by Cynthia Anderson”
Slip Over the Edge by Ken Hartke
Slip Over the Edgeby Ken Hartke Quietly slip over the edge.Disappear without a trace.Follow the old trails.The canyon trails are worn smoothby bare feet or reed sandals.Centuries old handholds are still there. Trails wind down to hidden pools.Deep shade is cool below the canyon rimScorching sunlight is a stranger here.The breeze builds toward the afternoon.ChanneledContinue reading “Slip Over the Edge by Ken Hartke”
Roots by James Penha
RootsBatang, Western Sumatraby James Penha The roots of the two banyan trees poured themselveslike rivulets into the Batang River—one from the eastern bank, one from the west—competing for the endless torrents gods grant Sumatra.The village elders who met at the full moonbeneath each tree loved their own banyan so muchthey needed to destroy its rivalContinue reading “Roots by James Penha”
Sunrise, Grand Canyon by John Barton (Arizona)
Sunrise, Grand Canyonby John Barton We stand on the edge, the fallinto depth, the ascent of light revelatory, the canyon walls movingup out of shadow, litcolours of the layers cutting down through darkness, sunrise as itpasses a precipitate of the river, its burnt tangerineflare brief, jagged bleeding above the far rim for a splitsecond IContinue reading “Sunrise, Grand Canyon by John Barton (Arizona)”
POETRY and PLACES 