BANFF NATIONAL PARK AFTER HOURS

See notes for description.

stars jut from the Prairie night
like crystal buttons on the
cream-frilled Boreal nightgown
of Mother Cascade

as a voyaging cricket shimmies
crucifixion nerve precision
through the dusk-decreed lockdown
of groomed grass motion sensors

and latches on for a lap
with biology's sun-skirting Locomotion

getting off at the trail of her base
clutching at the maturation of a swift sleep
in the shadow nurture of a landmark
so protective of the human hamlet tethered
to her grey breast in a main drag
level and historically attentive
as a well-preserved phonograph
murmuring
Rocky lullabies around
the mountain mother's flock
of voyaging limbs
and vagabond senses

Author's Note

For those of you who have never been to the area, Banff is a lovely little town and popular tourist destination within the Canadian Rockies. It's surrounded by a number of mountains but is nestled especially close to Cascade Mountain, a vantage point from which all the roads in town seemingly point to.
I will also reluctantly point out that the cricket is a metaphor for me jumping the gates of the public gardens to get closer to the base of the mountain, which happens to be a hiking destination for visitors as well. Lots of people do it, so I was hardly doing a misfit's work. I also managed to catch a bit of Northern Lights that night, hence the opening lines.
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Reviews

[Cory Barrett]

What a beautiful place to write of, and 4 months! Luck you.

[kublakhan27]

I'd give anything to be able to go back, but it isn't really a place I could live being a tourist town and very expensive...so glad you enjoyed it, thank you.

[ms. barrie]

My ex bf (from Canada); as well would always talk about his trips
To Banff...when he was young. I'm pocketing this Mr.Steve, but I'll be sure to 're visit
This first thing when I can give your words the proper review, justice they
Deserve.

[kublakhan27]

Feel free to take your time my friend...one thing I will mention though: the four months I spent in Banff were the greatest in my life...they may very well have been the only unequivocally happy stretch of time in my life.

[ms. barrie]

Geez I really need to get out of F.L. -- yes he'd always express
A lot of happiness when talking about Banff.
For now I have to stick to arm chair traveling! I'll do my
Best to not be too tardy. Sorry apparently I have Van Halen
Spinning in my head.

Alrighty then lol :)

[kublakhan27]

Haha I don't feel tardy, I have that album...talk soon Miss Barrie :) xo

[ms. barrie]

Lol, ah the 80s, yep, sweet dreams you :))

[Lyn Anderson]

this is sooo amazing. Canada is in your heart, and it shows.

[kublakhan27]

I spent a four-month work term in Banff in 2000, which involved going up and down the gondola every day to get to a gift shop at the top of one of the mountains...the scenery was breathtaking, and to this day, I say it was the greatest four months of my life...what can I say, I'm proud of where I come from, and I relate to many of its trademarks :)