I Place My Foot Carefully: A Reflection on Moving

“I place my foot carefully

            deliberately

            out of necessity

      so that my progress is

            smooth

      unhindered by a misstep

            a stumble

using my hands well

      is critical

      they’re instrumental

            in maintaining good balance

      and help facilitate

            forward progress

it takes concentration

      my body knows

            physically

      when my mind wanders

      then brings all of me back

            to focus

            on the next step

when it all works together

      I get where I’m going

            and revel in

      success achieved”

was written about climbing Class 3 ridges in Colorado’s high country; also applies to recent excursions along city sidewalks.

everything disappears

in the high country
everything disappears
except the route ahead,
dirt or rock underfoot
and the contour of
the next ridge

laundry at home is
still in piles
waiting alongside the
office inbox

yardwork and meetings
will wait; though
the phone in my pack
may buzz, picking up
a tower down the valley
let it buzz ~ i only
brought it accidentally

so unless it's
on the next cairn
it's disappeared