[Catherine Chandler]

Bell Creek Canyon

for Maddy

We kick off, climbing down to the side-creek,

chatting about who knows what. At each burst

of sun there’s more to talk about, the first

wet slide and swim brings laughter, then we speak

of how the light echoes along the walls,

rebounds from off the pebbles, seems to glide

on pools, and catches in the webs, hung side

to side above the creek in intricate shawls.

Almost as if some of our words are bound

on every throw of gossamer we pass

new waterfalls and fern walls need no comment,

till the silk has swept away the sound,

and a fresh silence glitters - here there is

a diamond on the finger of each moment.

Comment by Mr. Gwynn:

I scan the second line as /u u/ // /u // which strikes me as a little rough. In the fourth line the verb should be “bring.” Seems to me that the “we speak” manner (“our words are bound” “need no comment”) gets in the way of the natural description which is pretty though I wonder about the “webs.” Are we talking about Spanish moss or some kind of insect webs or just interlaced limbs? I’m not sure. “are bound / on every throw” also strikes me as a little strange. The last line is very nice.