Norway Pass

                                               Wind playfully tormented the rainfly on our tent,

hard ground rejected our affections and

sleep was left to entice but not to satisfy.

In the morning, the sky opened up,

Mount St. Helens revealed itself

to our startled  vision,

inexplicable force now resting,

inferno of fire and ash,

desert maker,

usurper of once mighty forests,

the fiery breath of god.

Many years between then and now,

we succumbed to the enormity and power,

we were enticed by the depth of the silence,

thankful of our brief yet wondrous witness

to the majesty of the planet.