PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

For our first full day in Glacier these two old children of the sun thought it would be fun

to get up early before the crowds …and head out to the sun….

It’s actually called Going to the Sun Road

named for Going to the Sun mountain…because the sun, from what I hear,

is an important God to the Blackfeet tribe…the one they hold most dear.

My apologies to the Blackfeet…but I’ll explain it as best I can…

They call the sun, Napi  which in their language means ‘old man’

The Blackfeet maintain there is no God greater…

for they believe, when it comes to the Earth…he is the creator 

The story goes there was water everywhere…

and that nothing else could be seen…

until Napi with all the animals on his raft…showed up on the scene.

It’s a 100 mile round trip…

and we found ourselves stopping a million times that day

because everywhere we looked…literally…took our breath away.

In fact from the beginning to the end of the Sun Road

and all points in between

the road contained some of the most magnificent scenery we have ever seen.

As we stood among these mountain giants …rising so majestically and tall.

we could reach out and touch the snow, the peaks the sky, the clouds…

and feel the waterfalls….

As the road wound through the mountains….

we’d stop to gaze…to hike…to climb up and down some stairs…

along the way we were greeted by three big horn sheep

a mountain goat…and a  family of grizzly bears.

The fog played hide and seek with the mountains

In the morning as our drive had just begun

but I’m proud to say by the time we finished

we made it to the sun.

We’ll be going to the sun again while we’re here

first…because we are infatuated

and second because this old man would like to find that old man

and thank him…for this world he has created. 

The rain that showered us all evening had stopped.

although many drops were still clinging to the trees…

As I walked a few of those drops fell down on me

coaxed off their leaves by an early morning breeze.

The ever-shifting clouds seemed to be having fun

as they danced around the moon who is always happy to reflect the sun.

As I felt the wind against my face 

and watched the sun-lit moon and clouds shimmy, shake and sway

I was reminded of this Native American blessing… 

a wonderful way to start one’s day:

‘May you be strengthened by yesterday’s rain…

walk straight into tomorrow’s wind

and cherish each moment of the sun today.’

I believe we could have learned a great deal 

from the indigenous cultures…if we had found a way

to get to know the people 

who first populated this land…

If we had tried to comprehend their culture

If we had tried to understand.

Then today…instead of walking separately…

we could all be walking hand-in hand…as one…

respecting one another’s differences

while enjoying…the rain, the wind and the sun