The Long Way to Mount Eddy

By Stephanie Posson

A winding trail with

lush wild flowers

in the meadow,

a chickadee calls.

Up the trail,

encountering the first

sparkling lake, I stop

to rest and explore.

Huge rocks encase the water

and I continue to the path

looking up to the saddle

which seemed so distant.

The shade from the ponderosa pines

Protects and nourishes

me on my journey as I

pass by the smaller middle lake.

In less than a mile

the last lake welcomes me

and I still have

a long trek

to the summit.

Approaching the steep saddle,

the clouds begin to threaten

but having come this far,

I am not deterred.

As I approach the tree line,

I view the small wall of rocks

which will please my aching legs

and complete the journey.

One long steep pitch

and I arrive

to the sight of hundreds of monarchs

gathering before my eyes:

so close to Heaven!