“Zen” and “Here” by Ashley Lawrence

Here 

On the road the taste of

fear lingers since the 

canyons caved in

I count mile markers

and minutes

feeling each one like

hole punches in the sky

here

but always lifetimes away

now flickering ashes guide me

down to Westwater

my first encounter with the Colorado

at the bank I wonder

if she wants me

as bad as I want her

Zen

Lean in, who drew the 

zen garden on Grand Mesa

we should have a ceremony 

and throw sand back to 

the ocean, in the rivers of time 

quartz flakes shimmer as we swim 

through Lava Falls rapid

nectar water, I am 

lost on you

About Ashley Lawrence
She/Her/Hers

Ashley Lawrence is a geologist and poet. She works as an environmental protection specialist for the State of Colorado and lives on a peach orchard in Palisade. Her work heavily draws from the natural world and is featured in The Film Desert Magazine as well as Humana Obscura.