I think hiking might be one of my main writing themes. Certainly, it is one of my favorite pastimes. Yesterday, we went for a hike along a section of the Appalachian trail here in Maryland. It was really nice to be outside in the bright sunny spring weather, after a cold rainy weekend indoors. We hiked near Washington Monument State Park. This monument was the very first built to commemorate George Washington, completed in 1827 by the citizens of Boonsboro, Maryland. Here's a view of the Cumberland Valley from the monument -
We met several "thru hikers," obvious by their enormous backpacks; I always enjoy these conversations, learning insights about different lives in just a few amiable minutes. One guy was from Massachusetts and doing a ten day hike; another was from Australia and had started hiking a couple months back, only to receive word that his 92 year old mother was dying - he went home for seven weeks to be with her, and was just now back hiking the trail again.
For today's slice, I've attempted a 'tritina' poem about our hike. (In a tritina, there are three stanzas of three lines each, with three end words repeated in varied order; there is one final line - an 'envoi' - which includes all three words in the single line.)
we hike together, yet always, try as I might, I trail
my mind wanders with my feet, my thoughts rain
brief hellos with strangers leave me in a happy daze
one hiker, claiming low mileage for the days,
shared of crossing a wild, rushing stream on the trail
he was exhilarated by sun after three days of cold rain
a second hiker confided his mother’s death did reign
the recent weeks alongside her, now a gift all his days
with precious memories guiding him on the trail
rain or shine, there is joy to be found in days on the trail
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