Upon Hiking Eagle Rock
Loop, Umpire, AR
“Silence breeds creativity.” —Jason Wood
The raucous rush at once absorbed in full
By holy hush. A stillness permeates.
An invitation hovers in the air.
A breathless expectation starts to pull
Your wearied soul to slow… and contemplate,
As autumn woods reveal the Winding Stair.
“Now further up! Now further in!” the call
Inside resounds. “The mountain holds the key!”
Tall piney spires arrayed in sacred light
Imbue each eager step with strength. And all
Your being hums with sacred energy
Until, at last, you reach the granite height!
Here, fisher-birds and dragonflies at play
Invite unhurried peace to close the day.
D.R. Rainbolt is a resident and native of Northwest Louisiana. He holds an MS in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas. He works in the supply chain industry.
D.R. As a hiker myself, your words connected me with the call of nature to go “further in” as the “expectation starts to pull (my) weary soul to slow. . .” (What a lovely phrase!). My visceral image was one of a dusty trail on a warming summer morning with a slight breeze rustling the needles amongst the mottled shadows cast by the “Tall piney spires.”
You took me on a lovely journey (but without a single blister!) and I thank you for it.
Yes, no blisters here (though I certainly earned some on this hike!). Thank you for taking the time to read and leave your thoughts.
Beautiful sonnet, D.R. Brings back memories of pleasant times spent in the hills of Arkansas.
Being from Louisiana, Arkansas has always been a favorite place to camp and hike. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
This poem quietly lifts the reader the same way the mountain lifts the hiker, moving from noise into reverent stillness…
I always used to like Arkansas, but then there was Bill Clinton. More recently, Bob Lee Swagger has brought me back to the underlying and overarching mystique of the Arkansan countryside. It’s a place where a person might want to live (but with a climate much mellower than that of northern New Hampshire) with a live-free-or-die world-view. Just ask Charlie Southerland.
Northern Arkansas is certainly beautiful, and when you’re born and raise in Louisiana, it’s all that you know of mountains. As far as politics go, Arkansas and Louisiana are both strange places. Can’t say I’m too much of a fan of either’s choices much of the time. They do both have some beautiful scenery though.
A welcome moment of respite from all the doom and gloom, DRR.
thanks for the read.
Sorry to have missed this fresh air earlier, Mr. Rainbolt. With the mountain holding the key to the peak, and the pines providing inspirational breath, scenic rest after the climb must be invigorating enough to renew energy for the downhill return. But I understand that’s only under consideration for tomorrow at the top of this peaceful sonnet!
This is a sensuous sonnet packed with vibrant imagery and a peaceful tone. Loved reading it Mr. Rainbolt!