Atop the Powder Hill Observation Tower (a poem)

Post date: Nov 12, 2019 12:43:35 PM

By: Abby Walter, Staff Writer

Posted November 12th, 2019

Atop the Powder Hill Observation Tower, overlooking Pike Lake, “Mary + Evan

Forever and Always With Love - 2005" is carved into the wooden rail,

inside an ever-fading chiseled heart, worn away

by Mother Nature’s show, wind, and rain

plus a thousand hikers’ hands,

rubbing greedily at the wood.

Someone’s forlorn knife,

maybe Evan’s,

slashed

through

"Mary."

Then again,

there are much

worse places to be left alone

than atop a beautiful wooden tower,

an arm’s length from the glorious oaks,

closer still to the shimmering blue sky and crisp fall air,

smelling not of “Pumpkin Spice” and “Apple Harvest,” fake-fall hand soaps,

but instead, scented with real autumn: crushed leaves, cool rain and a touch of early frost.