Above LeConte February 5, 2013
Posted by Jenny in nature, Smoky Mountains.Tags: Cannon Creek, Little Duck Hawk, Mt. LeConte, Myrtle Point, peregrine falcon
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Peregrine falcon
In dim swirls of sleep I dreamed I saw the top of Mt. LeConte from high above. In the way that dreams unfold without a pause or question, I knew I was a peregrine. I could hear the air flow evenly beneath my wings as I dipped to circle toward the mountain.
Sharp early-morning sunlight cast sheet-metal shadows. Every tree-furred valley folded neatly into place. Now I saw the streams that glimmered in the pouring light, the pools and waterfalls. I could see the water glide beneath the branching architecture of the trees.
As I banked and turned at Myrtle Point, I passed the glint of Cannon Creek. I saw its source quite clearly: tiny droplets percolating one by one from damp moss cushions in a balsam’s dark-blue shadow. I counted off LeConte’s twelve streams, turned sharp, and rode the air that flowed across the backs of mountains.
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Little Duck Hawk, a nesting place for peregrines on Mt. LeConte
“Every tree-furred valley folded neatly into place.”
Jenny, I am amazed at the hikes you so succinctly recount. But I am absolutely lift up by your language. Thanks! I needed that!
You are the poet laureate of the Smokey Mountains.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Beautiful piece from the perspective of a falcon. I have always fantasized about flying like a bird. Wonderful!
Thank you! By the way, one of the people who “liked” this post has a blog about building model airplanes. I thought of you and your Spad-13s and Fokker-D7s (I think I have those names right…)