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Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

0 posted 2002-07-22 10:30 PM

Finding Gold

A country drive
on a one hundred-degree day,
north on old highway 49,
no destination in mind.

No destination?
My son can’t accept this,
claims we’ve lost our minds
and he’ll have nothing
to do with our whims.
He’s eleven,
he has no choice.

Climbing to four thousand feet,
the road meanders
across the Upper Yuba River,
into a nostalgic blend of
vanilla, fresh pine.
I’m struck with an impulse
to stick my hot feet
into that cool creek,
and take an unmarked exit
descending to the river bottom.

Couples in inner tubes,
dogs, kids and grandmas
lounge on sandy banks or wade
in calm, lime-green waters.

Three stout young men
carry six packs of beer
over their heads to the outer bank.
I expect rowdiness,
but they sit in the stream
and quietly sip.

Flame-orange and royal blue
dragon and damselflies
dart overhead.

We find a good sitting rock in the shade,
near a small cascade, let our legs dangle
and watch a woman pan for gold.

My daughter splashes about
in unabashed glee;
the Boy wishes we had thought to bring
a fishing pole, which, he adds,
we might have, had there been a plan.

We have stumbled into a secret place
with the surety we’ll never find it again.

Hunger and thirst eventually
send us back on the road
to the historic mining town
of Downeyville,
where my son buys
a fishing net.

We continue north,
crest the summit,
plunge to a verdant valley;
thunderheads form,
big drops of rain
splash against the windshield.

The only radio station
plays religious folk songs –
somehow perfect for the day.
We stop to play in the rain,
stumble upon a gas station/petting zoo –
the kids feed llamas, emus,
goats and dinky donkeys.

My son is briefly happy.

© 2002 Corinne Bailey

[This message has been edited by Corinne (07-23-2002 11:23 AM).]

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

1 posted 2002-07-22 10:52 PM

But only briefly...we have to age like wine to enjoy the finer things in life...like damselflies...

Temptress

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-06-15

Posts 7136
Mobile, AL

2 posted 2002-07-23 02:09 AM

bumpers..

I will not bend to the cowardice of a silent judgement.

Dark Stranger
Member Patricius

since 2001-03-19

Posts 13631
West Coast

3 posted 2002-07-23 08:45 AM

ms Cor...
now all you need is the rattle of harley thunder along old 49...

(oh sorry was peace and quiet huh)

dug the view babe

Sven

Member Laureate

since 1999-11-23

Posts 14937
East Lansing, MI USA

4 posted 2002-07-23 06:37 PM

now this is you at your best Cor. . . capturing those moments so they never die away. . .

great work. . .

-------------------------------------------------------

To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world.

the_loner_23
Member Ascendant

since 2002-06-08

Posts 5479
Jacksonville, Florida, USA

5 posted 2002-07-23 06:40 PM

Awesome work

Cold hands means a warm heart

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

6 posted 2002-07-24 11:38 AM

thanks guys & gals!

Cor

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