acceptance settles
as we see the bright blue sky
(first time in two weeks)
An expensive hike
yet easy, green, glacial blue
make it worth millions
where can you see ice
floating from nearby glacier
as You eat your lunch?
Alaska wins us
though it can’t fully win her
(my pup will save me)
she’s bought the ticket
leaving me brokenhearted
as more rain plagues us
no blue sky peak views
in this cold and dreary state
matching my sad mood
a bit of comfort
At Homer vacation home
(luxury send-off?)
i can’t change her mind
Yet can face the great alone
(i know how to drive)
still fighting back tears
we honor native cultures
for July Fourth truth
how hard their lives were
yet their innovations rocked
our lame modern needs
from homes under sod
to sunglasses for seal hunts
they made a life here
their tenacious art
built in the midst of winter
reminds me of hope
so i paint a grin
and take them our one last time
crab legs included
every pretty pic
from our day in Anchorage
is marred by her news
tears will follow me
across Alaska, Al-Can
till I’m in his arms
the Al-Can won us
as we drove through Alaska
to these perfect peaks
how many glaciers
will there be left in our lives?
the thought is scary
the hike from hell wins
first with a grizzly loping
(who turned into woods)
then the sunrise view
of the flawless Lake Kathleen
before the ascent
the cloud at the peak?
kind of ruined my dream view
until the descent
the descent from hell
with steep scree the whole way down
even dog is stressed
how to recover?
book hotel three hours down
this horrible road
an Al-Can drive day
with glacial lakes and mountains,
ever-curving road
Mt. St. Elias
makes her stunning appearance
along the Al-Can
we follow rivers
all the way to Kluane
where a new lake shines
twelve hours feels short
with this hot springs in the mix
five-dollar heaven
driving Canada?
getting gas is exhausting
perfection elsewhere
glacial blue-gray lakes
mountains shrouded in dawn’s mist
so many rivers
the Al-Can delights
with curves, trees, hills, and mountains
to aid a long day
puppy is tired
yet he lives for where we are
so he truly lives
rainy morning walk
in this lushly green forest
boggy, soggy moss
an afternoon soak
in these hot springs mountains
to stave off the chill
on the best drive home
we saw a family of sheep
we saw views going blue
quick grocery run
reorganizing our camp
dawn: ready to roll
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