Rae Lakes

Rae Lakes

Above 9,000 feet, my head battles

With my body, which insists it

Should be flying at this point, but

My head knows better.

Thank God for anti-inflammatories.

From the confines of nylon walls

Alan Ginsburg’s Howl and

His letters to Gary Snyder

Enter my head through

My eyes.

Eric and I would usually recall a

Time in Beijing when it was

Five below zero and

The public bus ticket collector,

In her leather coat

And Northern Han red cheeks

Stood from her perch and yelled

Mei piao, mai piao!

But Eric turned back early,

So Tonnelli and I made small 

Talk for four whole days, and

I questioned whether I really

Liked weeklong hikes

At altitude.