I went to the foothills to get away from people.
People found and surrounded me.
All those folks attempted
to burn off pandemic stress,
political election year stress,
spare-tire-accumulating stress.
I sought solitude.
I sought thrashers and cactus wrens.
Why was I the one who yielded the trail
to unmasked walkers, joggers, and mountain bikers?
Away is now a half mile farther from home
than it once was,
with the national parks and monuments
closed to the public,
with bookstores closed
and no chance to peruse the stacks.
copyright © 2020 Kenneth P. Gurney
Umflop 