Vernal Falls

The Challenge in Yosemite National Park.

Vernal Falls

The pathway is narrow and steep.
It’s not an easy climb.
But Vernal Falls calls me.
Its voice echoes through the canyon.
I must go.

Feet trudge forward, muscles strain,
Breathing quickens, and heart pounds.
The sun dominates the cloudless sky.
Vernal Falls calls me.
I must go.

I stop at the bridge to rest and drink.
The breeze dances around me in the shade,
Cooling me, refreshing me for the moment.
I can see the falls just ahead.
Vernal Falls calls me.
I must go.

Carved steps in the rock lead me closer.
The mist from the falls rides the cooling breeze.
The song of the free-flowing water soothes my spirit.
I look back down on the canyon, to where I started.
I never thought I'd get this far, but here I am.

The climb to Vernal Falls has changed me. 
I will never be the same.

Copyright Thomas Dean

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