What About a Pilgrimage? Aug, 23, 2026

like a god, the Colorado River

has blessed us with water

for a very long time

perhaps a summer pilgrimage is in order

fly to Denver, rent a car,

climb high into the mountains

until you reach a blanket

of clean Sierra snow

bend and kiss a fresh crystal

sip from an icy stream

fill a small bottle, bring it home

set it on an altar and  

pray to it every day

with any godly fortune,

you’ll never need to drink

from that sacred bottle

but if you ever must swallow it

that will mean everything

will return to the time before

when desert tortoises roamed sand dunes

and stepped over bones,

looked past the vultures

and prayed to the sky