Intermountain High

Intermountain High

In a Hemingwayesque trope

I write of the Intermountain West

From the basin and range

To the Trans Mexican Volcanic belt

Of the Great Basin

And the Colorado Plateau

The Continental Divide

Or Sonoran desert snow

Intermontane sky islands bereft

Of city dwelling criminals and theft

Upper range thrust

In geologic striations I trust

From the steppes to the

Shrub land biome

Seeking open range

And a place to call home

Subduction zones and shifting plates

Life along the Ring of Fire

Pacific Ocean burning

Pushing Andes higher

Coast of Chile churning

Massive land forms I desire

Escarpments come to mind

Although Death Valley is fine

Slot canyons beckon

We are so small in their presence

And that's the thing, I reckon

I feel shallow between every fault

Feel uplifted by every rift

The Grand Staircase to the Painted Desert

From Volcan del Fuego to the mighty Sierra 

Pico de Orizabe to my own backyard

Look all around you

I find it isn't that hard

I'd rather skin my knees

On a rocky tumbledown

Then lean on your trees

Drink from your steams

And never with a frown

This is Mother Earth

Of her I beg in supplication

To take me to a higher place

Or leave me in isolation 

Even abandon me on the stilted plain

Because I know your beauty...

Will ease any pain

Jesse Alberson

9/24/2015