Overlook
Overlook
My family has a few favorite camp spots along the Colorado River in a rural area north of I-70. I love the sage brush, juniper, and wide open views. I love the birds, lichen, and cactus blooms. This linocut is my love letter to the river valley.
Overlook is printed in blue, green and brown ink on Rives BFK printmaking paper and painted with copper watercolor highlights. It is an edition of 20 prints. The image is 11 x 14 inches and the paper is 15 x 18 inches.
Overlook
Hills dip and curve
covered in dusty gray-green sage.
Between twisted, woody trunks,
hide barrel cactus, just about to bloom,
ragwort with sunny yellow smiles,
and quartz mixed with deer droppings.
Colonies of prickly pear lurk,
ready to attack at any careless step.
Of all the high desert landscapes,
this very spot is my favorite.
The Colorado River cuts a canyon
through this rural valley,
dividing jewel green hay meadows,
and wild coyote hills.
Dividing mountains highlighted with snow,
and juniper lush with berries.
A bald eagle flies her upstream route
over the brown ribbon far below.
Cottonwoods and pines hug the shore,
making a line of dense green
through this windy, arid country.
And up here on top,
I stand with ancient lichen on a rocky slab,
overlooking heaven.