16 Comments
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Margaret Ann Silver's avatar

So many beautiful moment. I especially like:

"and in your dominion

you will know the love

the Speaker has

for the Spoken"

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Mark Rico's avatar

Thank you, Margaret Ann!

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Christine Rico's avatar

I feel deeply refreshed just reading this!

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Mark Rico's avatar

Wonderful!

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erniet's avatar

I lived in Aberdeen and worked out of Taholah. I moved away in 1999. I go back to visit friends periodically.

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ville Iso ahola's avatar

👍

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erniet's avatar

Very nice; I lived and worked on the Olympic Peninsula for many years (and also grew up in the redwoods) and this piece captures the majesty of the place! "flat on your back/over swift waters/held unshakeable/by a log greater than your armspan." I spent many an hour on big logs spanning creeks just like that!

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Mark Rico's avatar

Over the South Fork Skoke, by chance? It would be interesting if we crossed the same log.

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erniet's avatar

Not the Skoke; I worked down in Queets/Quinault area though I did a lot of backpacking in the Hoh!

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Mark Rico's avatar

Can't think of many better places to backpack!

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erniet's avatar

Anywhere on the Peninsula is nice…Glacier Meadows, Wonder Mountain, Enchanted Valley…all spectacular!

My wife worked out of Hoods[ort so she’s very familiar with the Skokomish River area!

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Mark Rico's avatar

Small world. I lived out there years ago (Puyallup) and recently had a visit from the friend who took me on this particular backpacking trip, so it's fun to remember it in detail.

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Rosa Lía Gilbert's avatar

This is what freedom feels like. Beautiful piece!

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Mark Rico's avatar

Thank you, Rosa!

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Randy Edwards's avatar

I kinda hope this where your going and what you'll be getting to do. Safe travels! Love the poem!

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Mark Rico's avatar

Thank you, Randy! We're in Chicago, so no freedom like this for now. But safe travels and wonderful family, which is a whole different kind of freedom.

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