Arrogance

Our sons are grown
And gone out into the
World as Sergeants in
The army and Lindy
Is busy at the University,
I long for the smell of
Mountain air heavy with
Pines and the Gila calls to me.
One should never go into
The wilderness alone as
It is arrogant to imagine
We can survive all alone,
But I am arrogant and
Decide to go it alone.
My wife is unhappy but
Tells me to do as I please
So I pack to backpack and
Drive to the Gila wilderness
In western New Mexico
In two days.
I pack in across Iron Creek Mesa
And up Iron creek to about
9,000 feet to set up camp
By myself and breathe.
I could have stopped at the
Tiny town of Reserve on the
Edge of the wilderness and spent
The week eating Mexican food and
Perusing the quaintness,
But I would have known and
My pride out-weighed my
Better judgement and
Here I am alone at
Night and lacking
Company to
Share the
Solitude.
I spend a week in the wilderness
Taking day hikes, reading and
Contemplating things to put
It all into perspective.
I hike out too full of
Myself and decide at the trail’s
End to try and walk across a
Tree trunk fallen across a stream
Ravine with full backpack,
If I fall I could break a leg or
Arm or hip but my pride
Pushes me to risk it.
I make it across and to the
Car and home but I
Know I have done
A dishonorable
Thing by my
Arrogance
And tempted the patience
Of the wilderness whose
Tolerance for stupidity
Is narrow.
But the experience teaches me
The empty rewards of solitude
And the value of sharing
Life with a companion
And now I am filled
With joy at again
Sharing my
Life with a
New love.