Month: May 2019

A cardinal squawking from the closest tree
stops when I look right at him
as if he got his point across
the air suddenly feels cool
it’s like he was warning me
there’s only so much time
Sunset hides behind a cloud
the cloud becomes a giant, luminous dragon
breathing sunset fire
crackling the house next door into flame
the trees, the line of bushes
every one of them on fire
the air suddenly feels cool
the dragon becomes a silhouette, loses interest, turns away
A minute later, he is stretched out, sleeping
intricate bird calls turn to simpler chirps
even the trees seem to be resting
the scent of something floral marches through
it’s easy to feel loyalty to this army
the air suddenly feels cool
the dragon’s mouth hangs open and he begins to snore
his teeth elongate into fangs
he grows more ferocious the deeper he sleeps
What will he be by morning?

Take Your Pick

In college, one of the subjects I studied was writing song lyrics. During that unit, I wrote one song a week. Near the beginning of the term, I made the same mistake more than once. I’d come up with a handful of crude outlines for potential songs, then choose one to flesh out. Pretend that, for the topic I chose, the verses were coming along just fine, but then I got stuck on the chorus. I could not make it work. In my desperation, I’d look back at the list of potential songs, and I’d write a chorus for a different song topic. At that point, I’d switch my goal to finishing the new song. Well, the chorus may have come easily, but then I’d have trouble with some other part of it- the verses, the bridge, the rhythm, the rhymes.  

So there I was, halfway into the week, with a song due in a day or two, and I just wasted a day. I always ended up going back to the first song and figuring out how to finish it. I learned pretty quickly that I would have been better off staying with the original topic and working through the challenges. I think of this example often since the consequence was clear and immediate. All the options have their issues. I didn’t pick the wrong topic; I just dealt with it wrongly. I can think of a lot of life situations where it seems that the most growth occurs when you Pick It and Stick With It.  

sweet clover, rich earth
scents from the prairie braided
into memories

Trace Elements

Four-hundred forty-four miles long, the Natchez Trace extends from southern Mississippi across the corner of Alabama, into the middle of Tennessee. The Trace was originally a footpath traveled by Native Americans, European explorers, and early settlers hundreds and thousands of years ago. The National Park System wanted to preserve the history of the path, and did so by building a road that roughly follows the trail.  

The Trace was designed to be a scenic byway. Two lanes wind and curve, buffered by stunning scenery on each side, mostly forests or farm fields scattered with hay bales. I drove on pieces of it in January and February- probably the bleakest time of the year- and it was gorgeous. I would love to go back in other seasons to hike, take pictures, and just experience another layer of the area’s character. 

Waysides are built all along the route. Drive or bike the Trace at your own pace, stopping at whatever place names and interpretive signs interest you. (My favorite name for a stop was ‘Dogwood Mudhole.’ The stop itself was nothing special in February. I’m not sure if dogwoods actually bloom there in spring, or if the name is only a relic of a former landscape.) Some points of interest include: Native American Indian mounds, a museum in the Visitor’s Center, waterfalls, a Craft Center, military sites, overlooks, intersections with the Trail of Tears, interpretive trails, old cemeteries, former guesthouses, a cypress swamp, ruins of buildings, state parks, and sections of the old trace itself, where you can walk on the same path as the Native Americans and early settlers. Access points to the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail, with over 60 miles of hiking trails (over 50 of them open to horseback riding), are available from the Trace.  

Driving the Trace reminded me of my trip across South Dakota to the Badlands [which you can read about here], and of the legacy of Route 66. It’s the whole idea of driving on one road and stopping at a bucketload of attractions along the way, so the point of the trip is the journey, not the destination.  

Adding to the beauty of the Trace, no businesses are situated along the road. If you want to get gas or buy something to eat or stop for the night, you need to get off the Trace and stop in a nearby town. (Guides detailing restaurants, attractions, shopping, recreation, and more in nearby towns are available online and in print. Many of these towns are tiny, and you will be supporting small, independent businesses.) No commercial vehicles are allowed on the road, either. The Trace has a speed limit of 50 mph (or less, in some areas) to allow you to soak in the views.  

I don’t think I had even heard of the Natchez Trace before my big road trip. What’s more surprising is discovering that there are Tennessee residents who have never heard of it! While it’s easier to enjoy a park when it has few visitors, I have to say that the Natchez Trace is severely underrated and deserves more attention. Granted, I was not there during peak season, but I was still surprised at how little traffic was on it. At times, it felt like they had constructed the elaborate highway just for me.  

I drove on my first portion of the Trace during the government shutdown. This meant that none of the buildings were open- no restrooms, no water fountains, no visitor’s centers. I guess I should be glad the place was open at all. But every time I wanted to go to the bathroom, I had to get off the Trace and search for one. Luckily, when I went back on it later, the government was up and running.  

I would recommend the Natchez Trace to history buffs, nature lovers, photographers, hikers, bikers, and anyone who loves a road trip. It was one of my favorite parts of my year-long trip around the United States.  

I am not afraid
of the howl of the wind
the strength of my voice