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Poetry at The Puppet Theater Phoenix, AZ Featuring: David Chorlton, John Hershman, Jefferson Carter & Virgil Chabre
Richard Brautigan
http://www.poemhunter.com/richard-brautigan/
Gary Snyder
http://www.wenaus.com/poetry/snyder.html
Bob Dylan
http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs
Favorite Quote
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“According to the theory of aerodynamics, and as may be readily demonstrated through wind tunnel experiments, the bumblebee is unable to fly. This is because the size, weight, and shape of its body in relation to its total wingspread makes flying impossible. Yet the bumblebee, being ignorant of these scientific truths, goes ahead and flies anyway.”
-author unknown
Finis Mitchell
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Finis Mitchell was a mountain man, humanitarian, environmentalist, author, photographer and good friend. He was my inspiration and confidant. He lived to be one day short of his 94th birthday. During his lifetime he took over 100,000 pictures of the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. At the age of 73, while on a glacier, he twisted his knee in a snow-covered crevasse. He hacked crude crutches out of pine wood and hobbled 18 miles to find a doctor, and was able to resume climbing until the age of 84, when further injury to his knee ended his solo climbing career. He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of Wyoming.
During the Great Depression Finis lost everything and went to the Wind River Mountains to hunt and fish for food. He is an inspiration to all and I feel very fortunate to have known him and call him my friend.
Inside a Trona Mine
I remember the silence of riding
A caged elevator down the mine shaft
There is a certain perspective
About going to work in a mine
Looking at the concrete walls
As the cage moves on underground
Stopping at over 1600 feet
Below the surface
It is another world
Where man learns to live
Among the darkness
And dust and the sound of the mine
All around
Fans forcing air down the shaft
So that miners can breathe
Every breath may be their last
As the roof above makes sounds
Of cracks and crevasses
Waiting to fall
The sudden shock of loss of power
Brings a new meaning to darkness
And silence
Absolute quiet as you hear
The sound of a mouse
Running across the floor
Total darkness cannot be experienced
Above ground
Once you experience darkness
In a mine
It stays with you
You dream of darkness
Hearing the sounds of the mine
Before you wake up
To face the day
The daylight becomes your friend
For darkness is where you live
Hearing explosions
As life in the mine continues
Bringing trona to the surface
For glass, detergents, baking soda
And chemicals
Making a better life
Out of the darkness
Away from the sound of a mouse
Trying to survive
Below the surface of the earth
Listen to Johnny Cash
The Day I Fell Into the Grand Canyon
There are times I feel like a fool
Upon a hill
Where memories
Cast me aside
I think of her
Where she took me
And fall into a dream
Where I am lost
Like a song I can't remember
So I listen to Johnny Cash
To bring me back to a reality
I left behind
I see a silhouette
In the shadow
Dancing to a song
I cannot remember the lyrics
Only the beat and her movement
In my mind I know somewhere She sits with a song in her Heart I try to think which song Will it be tonight
Lost among the words
That fail to come
Into my mind
I listen to Johnny Cash
To cast my feelings side
Like a song
I will remember in the morning Long after this dream
Will be forgotten
It is not Ring of Fire
Sunday Morning Coming Down
Hurt
A Boy Named Sue or
Orange Blossom Special
But it could be
I Still Miss Someone Or I walk the Line There is nothing
Left to do
But listen to Johnny Cash
When she enters my mind.
The Day I Fell Into the Grand Canyon
The Day I Fell Into the Grand Canyon
It was a calm June day
The Arizona heat was in my face
No wind today
The sight of the Grand Canyon
Is hard to describe
It is like looking at a photograph
That is not real
It is like something
Out of a science fiction movie
I looked out across the canyon
It took my breath away
The reality of a photograph
Within my reach
I had to move closer
To get a better look
I climbed a fence
That had a sign
"DO NOT ENTER"
I still wanted a closer look
I heard someone yell out
"You cannot cross the fence"
It startled me for a moment
But I moved closer to the edge
My footing was not solid
The voice yelled again
"STOP"
Startled again
I looked back
But lost my footing
As I felt my knees buckle
My heart rate increased
With nothing to hold me back
I slipped and fell
I felt the wind
Totally around my body
The canyon flashed before me
I tried to focus my eyes
But the wind in my face
Made it difficult to see
Falling I felt a strange
sense of freedom
It was as if I was falling
In slow motion
Suddenly I could see around me
A dark cloud approached
When it passed me
I realized it was a California Condor
I could see its nine feet wingspan clearly
It was probably wondering
What I was doing in its air space
I could see the detailed look
Of its eyes
Staring at me like rubies
Clear and red
Just glowing
A grey wolf on the canyon side
Watched me pass by
It did not move
Standing like a lost statue
A Turkey Buzzard
Was circling above me
I could see it fading in the distance
Gliding patiently
Waiting for my fall to end
I saw the Colorado River approaching
The wind seemed to stop blowing
Around me
As my free fall continued
The river getting closer and closer
In case you are wondering
I am still falling....