Desert Walk

With the coming sunset, my gaze fixated intently on the western horizon, I sat atop a stone in wait. In hues of orange and yellow, the light danced through the clouds to find my eye’s and mind open. After two weeks of desert trolling, seeking virgin stone and elusive answers of my existence, it was here that I would end each day watching and waiting. I listen closely to the sounds of the waking desert and hear nearby the call of the coyote. He reminds me that I am a visitor in his home and he knows that I have been here for some time now. His pack has been visiting my camp every night for the last two weeks. Sometimes coming close enough that I can see their red eyes in the dark, just on the outskirts of the light from my red hot campfire.

 I walked the Arizona desert hunting virgin volcanic boulders in a vast rock garden .Climbing boulders is a passion of mine. When I find myself high off the desert floor, without rope or friend, I am forced into a trance like state, a kind of personal peace in fear. It's in this state of mind that I seek answers to the questions that I so desperately need answered. Fifteen feet below my toes is the hard packed ground that pulls at my back as I rock onto my toe tip. Edging a nickel edge flake, I rock my full body weight and let out breath in one motion. Without warning my foothold snaps and sends me ground bound. In the blink of an eye I am on the ground wincing in pain from a landing that I was not prepared for. My ankle screams as if on fire and I am miles from camp. I am alone and have been alone for the last two weeks, climbing boulders as high as thirty feet. Not really considering the consequences. After a long and painful hike/hop back to camp I race to catch the last light atop my favorite boulder. I needed to see the last sunset but not knowing why it was so important that I do……

A short hike finds me scrambling to the top of my sunset boulder to catch the last bits of light. As the light fades to black, I dread the end of my stay knowing that tonight will be my last. And I have questions not yet answered. Not to be left alone, the stars come out to keep me company as they always do. But just as I am ready to crawl back to my camp a noise just below my chosen boulder stops me. There he is! He doesn’t see me but he knows my scent. He realizes that I must be close and in mid step freezes. His ears scan the air as does his snout. He is beautiful and so close that I could almost reach down and pet him. But of course I don’t and give him the respect that he demands by just watching. His coat is three shades of brown and grey. His shoulders are wrapped in a cape of red with his tail dipped in black. We both sit frozen in time as I watch him with admiration and envy. To be as wild and free as him. I wonder if he came to watch the sunset as well. Maybe I have stumbled upon his chosen spot to say hello to the night and goodbye to the light. A moment later, he was gone. Not waiting to find out just where I was, and into the night he disappeared. I am sure he will bring his friends to visit me at my campfire later. I click on my head lamp and find my way back to my last fire ,knowing that tonight I would sleep to the song of the coyotes call.

 

Reviews

[Kitty]

You make me want to go hiking...lol On a serious note though, I'm sure this really happened.. how awesome that you can get away for a period of time.. I'm sure that in those times God says so much to you.. most of us live life, and forget to enjoy the free things God has given us.. like sunsets.. and boulders :)

I felt I was there, I loved what you said here
"Sometimes coming close enough that I can see their red eyes in the dark, just on the outskirts of the light from my red hot campfire." ... very nice. I could clearly see that in my mind.

Write on,

Melba <

[The Tao of Bri]

YESS!!! Finding peace in choas!! peace in fear! Again...such imagery!

[Mistral Bilgera]

Again, perfect Imagery! love how the mood shifted from tranquil and contemplative at the start to some small but pronounced amazement and tension in the end....

Love the coyote part in the end :) wish i can see a real one here in my country.

[Chistie]

I love this story, it's amazingly detailed and beautifully written. Its so sad though but that just makes it better. Thank you for sharing. Good job!!

[Cliff Rhodes]

Mr. Lopez,
This is a beautiful escape and I like the atmosphere you have given us of the desert and surrounding occupants. Cliff

[Belinda Rice]

wow gretly penned I like how no matter how you fell you never gave up you got back up to see the light again.....greta write I hope to see more.....

[RHEA CROSLEY]

Thank you for the journey. Very good descriptive usage of language. I felt like I was there. I would have liked to have been there to see that coyote. Thanks.

[Kena Dawn Augustine]

Beautiful story, Mr. Lopez. I could see the Arizona desert, hear the coyotes in the distance, feel my muscles push myself up the rocks. Thanks for taking me on a journey. where's part 2?

[Jessi]

I Love this story. It is wonderful, as is the writter. The imagery is amazing I could actually visuallize every moment of it as if I was there