Indian Rock Traverse

“There

is where I want to be. Up on top

the strong shoulders of ancestral giants.”

Lay down these words

Like hands and feet

placed on rock

with calculated

deliberation.

Move silently:

Across

tempered volcanic stone,

a mass of rugged rhyolite.
Once a shaded shelter and

dwelling to Huichin and Ohlone.

Now a terrestrial ship

donated as monument.

Across

like a bridge,

with hands crossed over,

legs spread spanning space,

and body completely horizontal.

Right leg hooked to the

sloped edge, with eyes laser focused on

the next move.

Press left against rock to creep over to

a two finger sliver,

and swing the body like

a pendulum, with magnetic feet

clinging to rocky relief.

Match hands, and crank

on the side pull, then

swing to a

jug of temporary victory.

Shake out.

I look down

to tiny ants drizzled

by the drips of my

sweat rolling o

ver patches of chalk

on my pumped

arms. Keep the ten

sion, and rest

with eager suspension.