Canyon Wren Prayer
Colorado River
Gushing cadence
Trills down the scale,
Clear curved notes
Carve silver songs
To wash red canyon walls.
Tawny tenor of desert cliffs
Sing again to bless these stones
To open this tired heart,
Soften edges
Waken new life.
Oh rusty wren
Raise your pure voice
Speak for this pilgrim
Sing thanks
For wild river roar
Still evening peace
Sing thanks.
from Glimpses: a Memoir in Poetry
