each step a challenge

 the way forward

Robert Frost cautioned that life can be like "a trackless wood," 

in which we make our way as best we can,

each step a challenge,

the way forward more of guess than of certitude,

now climate change births ferocious wind storm after wind storm,

trees weakened by the Great Fire and adelgid predation

break spectacularly asunder or just topple over,

the roots no longer holding,

now the way forward on the trail

can often be more of crawling under, of climbing over, obstacles

than of an unfettered step after step,

we live in a time when unexpected new realities

force us to alter our gait, our path,

our understanding of what the way forward might now be,

can we trust ourselves to find the way?

or do we lose ourselves by listening 

to those who do not know, but who speak with authority,

we should trust our senses, our common sense,

and deny control of our steps forward to those

who feel so strongly of wrongness,

how do I get over, or around, this log?

I need to trust what I can know

and judge carefully the paths others suggest,

particularly those who deny climate change is even real,

Gaia is a forgiving mother, but even She can only take so much.

by Henry H. Walker

March 28, ‘24