Battered Barrel

The Shaw Butts Trail located, in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, is one of the best hikes in the Phoenix area. Starting at the Central Avenue trailhead, it winds its way up the north slope to great panoramic views at the mountain top. About halfway up the mountain, on the west side of the trail, I found this battered barrel cactus.

It has obviously suffered severe treatment at some point in its life, but it certainly is a survivor!

I just had to write a poem as a tribute to this desert combat hero….Enjoy

                                                                                      Photo by Herm Meyer

Welcome to my home in the Arizona desert

This is hostile territory, so please stay alert

As you can see by my twisted knurled frame

This corner of my world is anything but tame

Alone struggling in this rugged mountain terrain

Fate destined for me, this hapless spot to remain

Winter’s cold by night, summer’s hot by day

Just me, the rocks, and a few lizards hard at play

I’ve had a rough life as you can plainly see

Mother Nature has not always been kind to me

Some of natures critters like to chew on my hide

Mankind has been known to kick me broadside

The dust, wind and weather take a heavy toll

And, yes, over time they all gnaw at my soul

On my side in this rocky bed, I may be down

But next time you pass by, I’ll still be around

                                          Poem by Herm Meyer

                                                                                   

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STUFF:

As expected, most of my readers are from the United States, but a special Vielen Dank to my readers in Germany. You are second in the number of page views. Also Большое спасибо to my Russian readers who are close behind Germany in page views. I am very impressed with your bi-lingual language skills.