To get from skiff to cabin across a curved expanse of exposed beach at low tide,
stepping in slow careful assent across
a mudflat densely populated with clams and eel grass,
a shell-to-shell carpet of blue mussels occupying
spaces between and under mounds of bladderwort,
a swath of barnacle encrusted rocks then
over the same cobbled confusion of glacier erratics into
territory where multitudes of snails sun themselves,
a loose arrangement of low growing goose tongue interspersed
among clumps of grass and beach greens staking
claim to a sandy stretch of beach that indicates
the farther reach of high tides, and
finally through a tall leisurely density of beach grass and
cow parsnips, in fullness of bloom, out of reach of high
tides but not their influences,
with each step, no matter the gentle intent, the history of the earth is changed.
Glen Ray deeply enjoys life in Juneau and exploring spiritual qualities of ordinary experience through the lenses of meditation, qigong, tai chi and sculpture.
