John Muir Haiku
John Muir Haiku
Introduction
John Muir, the Great Defender of Wild Places, in 1868 started his long saunter into the Sierra Nevada Mountain range.
He spent four years in the Sierra’s and Yosemite Valley where he gathered information on local ecosystems through drawings and notes. After the four years he moved to California to marry and raise two daughters.
He returned to the Sierra’s and Yosemite in the 1890s and noticed that industrialism had left scars upon the wildlife. This destruction to the land broke his heart and he began his crusade to conserve.
From his “scribble den” in California he began his political battle to save what he called American’s Treasures. The legacy of John Muir is his and his alone.
He stood strong as a thousand year old Juniper when he pushed for conservation with his own fists. Through his political activism and lobbying he earned the title of “The Father of America’s National Parks.”
A true American spirit and a hero to our land.
He stands in his hat
his white beard as rough as pine
a ghost in mountains.
I. Oh, John Muir
To close the car door
wear my dress shoes into sage
find the time to sit.
Inspirational
these generative moments
composed of static.
Notes played in wind
surround me in guttural
on granite boulder.
My eyes wide open
upon the granite and sage
notice my footprint.
In the distance gnarled
Pinion Pine fights against wind
holds its ground to grow.
This dry condition
a corresponding difference
in vegetation.
II.
Long rocky basins
will collect all melting snow
to see full rivers.
Different breeds of grass
delightful smooth shallow shod
line the river banks.
Sierra Violet
in purple or yellow blooms
a kaleidoscope.
Hanging on ridges
or swimming with the minnows
life to the fullest.
Hard massive boulders
held in place by roots of trees
alter rivers course.
Form natural damns,
in a recessive order,
and freshwater pools.
III.
Where erosion brings
fresh nutrients to the soil
for flowers and grass.
A tilting pasture
natural hanging garden
eroding away.
Fallen trees and logs
haphazard in their placement
solid pine bridges.
Down sweeping ribbons
of multicolored flowers
take sight to their line.
These broad shallow streams
where the snow melt always flows
this product of thaw.
Damn rocks are packed close
near the pool I wash my face
above jagged peaks.
Nearby shore willow
grow in patches near a bog
where Mayfly sounds hum.
IV.
Sierra Lilly
God’s perfection on Earth
displays of grandeur.
A squirrel scurries
as part of its daily work
gathering Pine Nuts.
On this great pasture
one deer illuminated
by the morning sun.
Meadows in thaw
virgin as fresh fallen snow
this gift to my sight.
Tempo of the leaves
orchestra of this grand world
holy precision.
My footfall as kind
as bears upon flowers bloom
or trout on the crest.
My Sierra home
through the season’s of my life
changes as I live.
- Here Comes Stormy Weather - November 6, 2023
- To the Abode of the Damned - October 29, 2023
- A Short Spiritual for Sunday - September 25, 2023
Jamie, this is a wonderful tribute to the great conservationist, John Muir and the beautiful lands he saved. Great write, Jamie. Thank you for sharing this important legacy of John Muir.
PS: 1890’s should be written as 1890s
Thank you Phyllis. Made a few small changes including the postscript. His work with the Sierra Club and President Roosevelt should be included in history books. Jamie
What a delightful collection of haiku and beautiful images. A fine tribute to a great human in John Muir. Well done Jamie.
John Muir is one of my all-time hero’s – nicely done piece on him Jamie…
Thank you John and Kurt. John Muir is one my hero’s also. Jamie