Hermitage

Panning

the length

of the canyon

a version                      

of teenage        

exploration

rolling pavement

dry must

seeping creek

down from Priest Rock

Nomioss                                  

walking back                           

informs Pahn                

of the hermitage

above

up a rocky path

into the re-growth

of chaparral

past the ore tailings

Climbing a crude stair

through

abandoned stamp mill

chute

arriving

at Sunday school 

Kindergarten               

museum                       

crafts

tables

          kind             safe    quiet     gay priests

     giving instruction                    

     in glue and paper              

Pahn’s children

reasonably contented

already comfortable

in the environment

of their people

then coming away

with their father

    to the artifacts

 of explorers

and obscured ethnicities                     

their baskets

pestles

Pahn leaves      alone

with a spear

souvenir

meaningful

at first

but soon unneeded

He descends the trail

through

the laurel               

into the canyon