When The Evening Dies...

like those before me
I will come sing

& disappear

leaving only
broken sandals
& imperfect tools

name
forgot

or just
maybe

never
spoken

-Robert M. Petersen

I-40 through Arkansas
Writing while Driving
Chasing the Sun Fallen Down

Left Atlanta Yesterday
Memphis this morning
The weather whacked
outside it was pouring
Just inside of Tennessee
in some little shanty town
Rolling across I-40 West
the Sun is settling down
Darkness encroaching creeping
my eyes heavy weary
My focus off, my nose running,
my vision becomes dreary
Pulling over tired,
feeling beaten & overused
Blue took the wheel
while I jump in back to snooze
Four drowsy hours later
she pulls to the side
Set up our beds outside of Memphis
settling for the night
Stashing the bikes in front
parking by Sunset Motel
Cover everything with foam padding
end up sleeping very well
Awoke with the Sun
rested feeling better
Blue couldn't sleep though
her thoughts just wouldn't let her

Stopped at Hardee's
to run the morning routine
Wash the teeth, brush the face,
Splash on some new clean
Tried to eat some hash browns
but it wouldn't settle down
Besides there's always another place
in another little town

Relieve stress on the bladder
pin-up the dangling hair
So we don't get hung up by cops
hassling hippies everywhere
As soon as we cross the Mississippi
seven cops in a line
Welcome to Arkansas weary travelers
they do it everytime
Strapped with our seatbelts
Blue lit up a smoke
The cop didn't hassle
both of us were stoked
Good thing
after just dusting a bowl
it reeked like dank
even after we were pulled
120 miles to Fort Smith
10:30 in the day
Clear Sunny weather
the mountains 12 hours away

Anasazi Ruins 5/18

Been about two days
since I wrote you last
But Crow it's been the best two days
anyone could ever have
Woke in the morning
to a fire engine Sun
Got ready to get ready
hit the road about one
50 miles to Arizona
heading due west
Now comes the part of the trip
I really like the best
Alburqurque about noon
some numbers from tour to dial
Calling on sisters
I've not seen in awhile
Hung out at their place
showered before we ate
After two days on the road
a shower did feel great
Trading several hugs
we said our final goodbyes
Then it was back on the road
traveling beneath clear & awesome skies
If you've ever driven out West
I know you understand
The soothing feel of open road
beat of windblown sand
Goodbye Grandfather Sun
slipping from the sky
In Canyon De Chelley now
another day creeps slowly by
A world burning down
orange-blue enflamed
The sunset held us mesmerized
Van Gogh as it waned
How can I describe
the way I truly felt
A witness to creation
this feeling that I helt

This great labyrinth of rock
mazeworking before my eyes
Humbled I am by its detail
the intricacy of its size
Overwhelming the feeling
sheer strength of canyon winds
Fortunate to experience
places i've seen & been
Unfolding all so slowly
a night of peaceful slumber
Never fails to blow me away
or fill me with thought & wonder
These ancient people lived in peace
scattered on canyon walls
Knowing their lives were a blessing
every moment filled with awe
Set camp in minutes
made the bed then fixed the bikes
There could be no better moment or scene
in which to take a ride
The stars smiling on our presence
bound in endless thought
Thankful Creator for our lives
every memory that we've got
New morning trek
along Mammoth Canyon walls
All along I knew pictures would
never capture it at all
Happened upon some sparkling rocks
gathering quite a few
Then kind of hung out
chilling until about noon
Decided it was time
better we should head
Wake up my van Drifter
tunes covered by the Dead
Stoked we were thinking
what an unbelievable stay
There could be no better end
to such a killer day

Then I thought of Sedona
only 23 miles off the path
Knowing it was a special place
an experience she had to have
Course set on Sedona
I'd been wanting to get back
unbelievably mystical there
so I checked the trusty map
132 miles to Flagstaff
30 miles from there
Two & half hours we are now
in the middle of nowhere

Red Rocks

Got to Sedona in two hours
parked at a post office on the hill
Blue was overwhelmed by the scene
couldn't believe it was real
Hiked to take some pictures
seeking a panoramic view
Had to get above the town
before even trying to shoot
Found the perfect backdrop
for this spectacular mountain range
An old burned out desert house
with stone fireplace & frame
From there straight up
invading neighborhood yards
The scene was so awesome incredible
the climbing wasn't hard
Reached the peak of this one mountain
seemed a million miles from any town
From their we could see the horizon
in every direction all around
Satisfied content
with the pictures that we got
Guessed this was exactly
the scenery we had sought
Left Sedona on I-17
started again west on 40
Though the sun was setting
I figured it 4:20
The evening sun fading fast
into an Arizona night
By morning we would awake
to California light
Just left Barstow
on our way to Sequoia
When we get there Crow
I'll have another story for ya

Telegraph Ave.

Last night we stayed at Vista Point
overlooking the Bay
Got up about 10:00
went into the city for the day
Blue had a wild urge
to get her body pierced
She wanted to do her belly
& both of us our ears
The Latte girl told us
"Go over the Richmond Bridge
Take 580 into Berkeley
thats where I live
Look for Telegraph Avenue
a cross-street near the U
& somebody will tell you from there
what you have to do"
So off to Berkeley we went
looking for Telegraph
Something we had to do
follow a feeling Blue had
Found it pretty easy
guessed destiny was right
Parked by U of C
walked up to the light
This sister vending earrings
mentioned Zebra 3 blocks down
Said it was about the best
piercing parlor around
Strolled down the walk, went inside,
seemed really, really cool
Clean, professional, nice & tight,
setup by the rules
Rubber gloves, sterile preps,
clean needle & cork
One simple flip of the wrist
Crowd Villian inspects his work
Fast & easy with what seemed
little or no pain
Both of us were stoked
this marked for us a change

So here we are Crow Sister
in the silence of our room
Tapestries on the walls
radio kicking the tunes
Typing on my laptop
Blue lying in bed
Just returned from a walk
so we could stoke our heads
Praises Father for looking out for us
for blessings in everyway
For the dream of creation for everything
every single day
Let the time that passes now
strengthen them as friends
Know Crow
it won't be long that we see you again
With stories too good to be true
experiences you'll want to share
& you know Crow we wish
that you were over here

-Z

Kicking it Fat at Heartwood
Chilling
in the Redwood Mountains of California

From Barstow to Sequoia
just a hop skip away
Though driving through it would take
just about all day
Easy trek to Three Rivers
an army run base & lake
The road lead all the way around
the scene was enough to intoxicate
Following the windy river
snaking the valleys of rolling hills
Tracing high climbing canyon walls
in a line of automobiles
Though my van was breathing hard
never did it fail
Made it through that journey
lived to tell another tale
First thought the Sequoias
must be somewhere near the valley floor
But no these trees are high up
knocking on Heaven's door
When we made it to the top
like a dream there they stood
Majestic Ancient Proud
looking the way a noble would
Here in God's Country
nothings for certain or for sure
The mystery we see everywhere
holds us with strange allure
-The one who touches the sky
everything beneath his arms-
A 4,000 yr. old living tree
right before us where we are
Climb the fence on the backside
where nobody could really see
Left a few crystals in a knot
did a few quick ceremonies

On the tree a depression
perfect for crystals a few prayers
Sent one up for you Crow
wish that you were here
Gave a little tobacco
offering for the land
Raising it to the Sun for blessings
chances now at hand
Hugged General Sherman
or so this Ancient being was called
To me he should be "He
who rises majestically over all"
Feeling so stoked in our spirits
about the ceremonies we just did
A offerings of simple gratitude
for the lives we now live
I found the crystals at Mt. Ida
took them from the ground myself
Straight from Grandmother Earth to my hands
with no one else's help
A token to this Ancient Redwood
largest being of the Earth
Still alive & kicking
since the very first
Seedlings planted their roots
grounding enough to transform
Fighting the elements of life
weathering every storm
Surviving to this day
even the modern coming of man
I'd say these trees are another
miracle of the land
It snowed while we were there
quit when we left
Strange all the coincidences
just synchronicity I guess

Winding through King's canyon
driving up to heavens throne
Here where no mortal would ever
have thought to roam
If not for this road slithering
busting through every scape
A gift of modern life
thankful for voyages that i've made
Listening to the Counting Crows
snuggling memories of home
Carrying you with us every place
every journey we may roam
Eager anticipation excitement
for want of new thrills
Following our fancy
chasing the wind
going on what we feel
The sheer size of that forest
seems exaggerated at best
But I guess it seems that way
with everything out West
Mountain canyons rolling rivers
following deep cuts of land
Ocean surf wind wave
a hundred varieties of different sand
Just a tank of gas
puts all worlds within reach
Go from a snow capped mountain
to a Pacific Ocean Beach
So much to explore out here
more than can be imagined
It's such a blessing this crazy dream
chances I keep having
At Heartwood now chilling
kicking it fat in our room
Listening to Tori Amos
writing this poem for you
Another journey done another story told
One more chapter gone
another memory we have to hold

Telegraph Ave.

-Z

Anyone born in slavery
is born for slavery -
nothing is more certain.
Slaves, in their bondage,
lose everything,
even the desire to be free.
They love their servitude
even as the companions of Ulysses love their life as brutes.

But if there are slaves by nature, it is only because there
has been slavery against nature.
Force made the first slaves;
and their cowardice perpetuates their slavery.

-Rousseau