Yosemite

Snowman

Snowman
Stand above trees,
climb falls, and
defy melting.
Laugh at stealers.
Water made hand.
Create balls of ice.
Nourish the forest.
Lodge pole pines
give oxygen love .
Make
great
build
think
do
artfully
new.
Get to work
snowman.


Caroline Gerardo
copyright 3/13/2016

Snow Angels

Yosemite meadow whispers, 

wind brushes snow. 

"Where no man has gone before!"

 My brother says, dropping his body 

prone on his back 

then laughs hysterically, 

swim his arms and swish legs.

Leave a perfect angel.

Back out cover tracks, 

 branch of cedar perfume.

Driving home pass the valley

 where  El Portal rests

under the cover of fog.

Is Cary Stayner still alive?

Do ghosts haunt the town?

His brother returns from abduction, 

scarring the family.

Those Devils never learned how to make snow angels?

Caroline Gerardo 3/5/2016 Copyright

Snow Creek Trail

Bandy Leg Hike Yosemite

By Snow Creek Trail

Bears won't bother

Busy camp trash cans

Breath ice air azurite

Balsam warm views

Beauty feeds souls

Bottom river blue

Caroline Gerardo
2/26/2016
Copyright

Fog Lifts

Seed Catalogs pile on the coffee table. 

Not throwing them out with the clutter purge, yet.

By this time of year I clone roses, clematis vines, 

and hydrangeas. Winter is seeds purchasing time. Start them in sunny

kitchen windows, then move gradually to the "greenhouse." 

Greenhouse doesn't have heat. Normally in Coastal California nights

don't freeze. Last couple, however; harsh dry winds and 

cold threatens to burn tender projects. Mild freeze turns chartreuse new

sprouts to red. Frost makes the cells turn to mush as if desiccated

then liquidated. The tingling feeling in fingers when exposed

to snow too long. 

Since the plan is in pen to sell and move I haven't traded seeds on

heirloom seed swap and garden web seed exchange. 

In the garage sit paper bags full of smaller brown parcels of seeds. 

An idea came to mind to plant them in my Mother's 

and sister's gardens in hopes they bloom

and produce seed for 2017 

when I plan to be settled in a new home. 

I'm downsizing from a huge high maintenance castle. 

I plan to rent for six months to a year.

Find the ideal cottage with a small yard. 

Everywhere I lived I changed an ugly plat or acreage into a stain glass church of flowers.

Come over before the smell of paradise disappears.

Will I stay here? Perhaps renting is a change that frees time.

No longer will I be weekend warrior.

Scrubbing the pool tile, painting ceilings or repairing plumbing. 

Did I tell you about the six foot glass panel shattering over the

pansies Sunday? I'm still picking up bits. 

Save Honey (Golden Retriever) from harm with tangled contraptions.

Will this give me the desire to fly? 

After living in suburbia and owning a ranch to give my children a great

life start maybe I will move to New York or back to London or Mumbai?

My necklace clasp hits cross and hair entwines. 

It's a sign.

Morning fog lifts. 

Time to pray for all.

Cells below fingernails have minuscule shards of glass.

Becoming a part of my spirit

It's not like sand in eye scratching.

It's that missing feeling when I think of my son at college.

Or when someone mentioned Lacrosse on Facebook.

No more running to High School games to work the stats.

But it's in my heart.

Fog before hiking Yosemite 2016 Caroline Gerardo

morning Yosemite snow and fog Caroline Gerardo

Chain link fence and morning sun

Caroline Gerardo Copyright 2/6/2016 

Empty Nest Thoughts

Ahwahnee Belongs To Me

Yosemite 
Hiked Yosemite 

yosemite fog in snow

Yosemite mossy trees in snow

John Muir cries

Railroad Delaware North Corp sued USA over loss of Ahwahnee Hotel, Curry Village... 
as business property

Who does Yosemite belong to?


Chief George Dick is my ancestor.

Canyon live oak, choke cherry and golden brodiaea are my sustenance.


Past years Delaware North (DNC) filed copyrights of
historic names, federal protected National Park lands in Yosemite.
DNC lost the contracts to concessions to Aramark.
Ha Ha they think.
Aramark will have to rename and re-brand every sign, napkin and rock in Yosemite.
"Go climb a rock,"  no more ~ patented words not allowed to speak on lips. 

March 2016 Ahwahnee Hotel becomes Majestic Yosemite Hotel. 

I alone brand Mariposa tulips.  

Shower in the fire of Horsetail Falls.

Employees at the hotel  know nothing

Decline to comment in shame.

Who cares if they paint over the hand 

trimmed borders in the rooms?

Who cares if greed walks off with the

hearth andirons? 

Who owns the names of history?

Copyright

Whose right?

Filing my claim. 

Ahwahnee belongs to me.

#saveyosemitenames

Poem photographs and video copyright © 2016 Caroline Gerardo

Do you think a Corporation (DNC) should keep our national treasures?

Yosemite

Solo. 

Bug protection,

fly fishing line, 

 and flint for company.

Three days thirty plus miles

~

continue climb,

air out blisters,

wade in lakes,

~

Campfire perfume

clings to boots

driving home.

Caroline Gerardo Summer 2015

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