The Hike at Genesis Farm

On Friday, I took a field trip to our local Community Supported Garden, with my middle child's class. They had a final exam on bioregional studies, in the form of a scavenger hunt. I had a blast, even though the temperature was 40 degrees higher than the night before, and 20 degrees higher than the two days before (upper 90's F).

One discovery was to be the highest point of the farm. We decided to visit all three points (on three different very steep hills (verging on small mountains) and take photos, so that we wouldn't have to trudge all the way back up after finding the highest point.

One of the pieces of the scavenger hunt was to be a poem about the day. My team of girls decided they'd get more points if EVERYONE in the group wrote a poem. Then they decided that included me. So here's my contribution to the group effort, all about the climb to the top.

The Highest Point at Genesis Farm
by Robin Slaw

Heat rising in fiery blasts.
Steep hill to climb.
Short breathe, dry throat,
Wondering if we will make it to the top.

Pounding head, vision doubled,
Skull baking in the heat of the sun.
Path rising endlessly before us,
Will we make it to the top?

Hill crested.
Shade of the grandmother tree inviting.
Flop down, restore breathing,
sit up and look around.
Did we make it to the top?

Crickets buzzing, birds singing.
Twenty more feet to go.
Gulping water, wiping down faces,
eying the top with questions.
Will the top be worth the trip?

Arising with groans and expletives,
We trudge the last remaining feet,
heads down, counting the steps,
Are we there yet, at the top?

Muscles quivering, we raise our heads
and wonder at the view before us.
Effort forgotten, amazement awoken,
We whisper our awe to the world.
Did we make it to the top?

Distant blue mountains, shimmering in the haze.
A hawk soaring in the currents above us.
Breathless with wonder, overcome with the beauty.
Was it worth it, to make it to the top?
Yes!