Passive Architect
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Just North of Vegas
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The desert range lays out
huge river casts of ancient waves
the brightness washes out the landscape color
of the swirling hill tops
well-worn rock in quilted patterns
raised scars, as the railcar divides the view
between horizon to sky.
What caused the desert?
The beautiful girls with jeweled eyes serving dinner?
Vegas compared to an Oasis
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Vegas
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The city is wide open
the lights draw you in from the desert
half a population of people work for the show
pull your money into their booming oasis.
Blinking, clicking, cracking, crooning
for your love, and admiration of this ridiculous marvel
awaiting the thirst of a hungry person.
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On Canyon Floor
.
Lay down on the canyon floor
face up, heavenward
the sun has burned into the sandstone
the heat crystallizing the iron oxide
sun bleached rock, sandstone above
the pebbled river
bits of canyon across the well-worn floor.
.
There is a spirit caught here in The Narrows
the sanctuary of Zion, angels landing.
The courtyard out here with the iron table
for two.
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Lay down and pray, face heavenward
and learn the language of the gods
the deep cliffs of sandstone
an oasis of magnificent heights
so tall I stumble backward
into the visual vortex I want to climb
meet strangers to tell the truth
an offering of goodness among
church bell chimes
a green patina spire along the red rim border
the spirit, lifting along the echoing of bird calls.
.
Again, the Germans with their large cameras
strung around their necks and children.
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On a Flight to Nevada
.
And so, the sun will wait
to set for me
but the city won’t wait to miss
the last show, the closing hour.
.
A wind will ring again
the leaves slowly bloom
the mountain laurel opens pink
at the tall ridges we
climb, slowly between naps
the city keeps growing, hindering
the proper evolution of man
which means I have been too
busy for loneliness.
.
What have we forgotten to look for
in our rush to notice first?
The speed and entangled manner of
technology that keeps us preoccupied to live?
.
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The Main Street Gallery presents…
photos, paintings, pottery and more. We’ve invited artists who have supported the gallery to showcase their own work. This is a night to celebrate our supporters! So, come to our little gem of a gallery in the middle of historic St. Clairsville to have cookies, coffee, tea, and a side of engaging conversation.
Join us this Thursday, June 28th from 7pm-10pm!
Photo by Arts and Crofts
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Want to find a place to be in the Ohio Valley?
Check out this blog, Places TO Be in the OV, and go wandering.
Find their article on the Main Street Gallery here!
I have a library full of thin spines. I read a lot of poetry, and was lucky enough in February to listen to my favorite poet, Claudia Emerson, at Waynesburg University. Other books that I’ve read this year include the end of the Harry Potter Series, Son of the Wilderness: The Life of John Muir, Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, and Late Wife by Claudia Emerson. What would you recommend?
Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic
I have run this race as a 20K, and last year as a half marathon. Recently, I wanted to find out how this race compares to other tough races. I mean, look at the grade! But what else constitutes a tough race? The running conditions in West Virginia in May are near perfect, and there are enough volunteers along the race course to cheer you on while providing something to take care of your thirst.
I found Dennis Dilbert’s interview on RunPals.com where he states
Which are the most famous or popular local races?
I would have to say the most popular races would be The Parkersburg Half Marathon and the Ogden Half Marathon in Wheeling for the longer races.
The Ogden used to be known as the Elby’s Big Boy 20k Classic. It was a mainstay for runners like Bill Rodgers and Jon Sinclair back in the 1980’s. Recently we have had the emergence of the Debbie Green Memorial 5k run in downtown Wheeling.
The Northern Panhandle of West Virginia has a plethora of great small town local races. Most of the runners and walkers know each other, which makes for a great social environment.
What’s the one race a visitor should run?
My call on races that would be a must would be the Ogden Half Marathon. Back when it was the 20k, it was hyped as the toughest 20k anywhere by running legend Bill Rodgers. This course shows off our hilly terrain and sometimes strikes fear into even the most seasoned runner.
I’ll keep looking. In the mean time, check out the Ogden race course, and begin running 1 mile stretches this week to begin training for it!
Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic Race Course
My Neighbor
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The neighbor is replacing his roof
smothering even more the life that exists
between himself and the sky.
.
The men he has hired to climb ladders
to make his house taller
sit on his front porch for lunch.
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One of their wives has brought them
sandwiches in her van. Why does she come
in honor of lunch, an excuse to break the day in half?
.
Journey across town, just to wipe
The mustard from his fat top lip.
It’s sweet when she kisses the roofer in the shade
Goodbye and she talks about where she needs to be next.
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Engaging Mountains
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We started our hike later than we should have.
Noon was breaking and the sky clear.
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Past the deep spruce forest only two miles into the hike.
We began the scramble, through a gate only a few were permitted to go.
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Karins weren’t so easy to see. For a while
after each blaze we scoured up the red rock
hoping each step was put forth in correct effort.
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Moving at the pace of the sun
the top kept moving from us.
Over every false summit
finally seeing tiny black people against the sand and sky.
The effort so tiring was giving hope.
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Up the last mile of ash we moved
one step for every two,
sinking into the volcano herself.
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In the thirty years since she’d last erupted
new ecosystems were growing.
We climbed young glaciers with our movement
both strong and pervasive.
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My boyfriend always two steps taller than me,
leading us over to on top of this landscape.
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The physical strain was our gratitude to nature,
our passage into a clear being,
an intuitiveness between the trees,
gravity and our thoughts so easily aligned.
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From that height nature opened her mouth,
the center of the volcano still steaming.
Small rocks falling into the cauldron.
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Our exhaustive effort giving awe to God,
the sky, the mountains that rose close
enough for us to see and name.
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We were more thankful with our physical effort behind us.
And at that height, of first climbing a mountain,
a living volcano, the boy asked me to marry him.
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I was Looking
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Tired legs in the middle of August,
but I write from deep December
said yes to India
Let her float me away in the beautifully adorned air balloons.
I stared up, stared far, and let the unsettling faults dissolve from me.
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It began to snow this morning
let me stay to myself
deep shadows
different from yesterday
to be kept in only one day
before melting
.
Today is suddenly more special
stumbling on something
I forgot existed.
.
I go to this land of beauty
and boxes of gold
to leave something
let them know I was looking
.
Like snow on cars and streets
I see where they were walking
when they were driving.
And I enjoy knowing
more than I should.
