POEM - Heading Down Isn’t Always Easier

Hiking into the Superstitions laden and young

Bright blue nylon pack just heavy enough

Early spring is the only acceptable time

In lower Arizona deserts for such treks

High summer is voluntary suicide

Deep winter heckled by flash floods

Flat ground was easy cadence, quick smiles

Up at first was gentle until it wasn’t

Complaints came quick from added effort

But it was the anticipated decline

That seemed the greener pasture

But contained the harder obligation

Gravity presses on the up, pushes on the down

Pushes hard until knees buckle

Thighs burn and feet slip and hands meet gravel

Until those once speeding end up bleeding

The slow ascent becomes a desirable respite

From headlong plunging like uneasy turtles

The summit presents tempting treacherous slopes