Amboy Volcano Poem by Juan Olivarez

A field of lava and plutonic rocks,
Stretches for miles all around.
And the crater looms at one o'clock,
In Amboy California, it can be found.

We track through the desert my sons and I,
Javier and Diego hiking with me,
About a mile and a half as the crow flies,
Going to climb the crater, no cup of tea.

All along the lava fields, you can see volcanic rage.
Snakes and lizards, bask in the sun,
Living fossils of a bygone age.
And now at last the hike is done.

And now we are standing at the foot,
Of the Amboy Vocano and we gaze,
Up to the summit and we're all mute,
Wondering if the sun has made us crazed.

So up the western side we go,
Scrambling up the craters side.
Everywhere the lava flows,
Make it a very hairy ride.

Up, up the rocky path,
We scramble over jagged stones.
And I find it hard to catch my breath,
And feel the exertion in my bones.

And then i'm looking down not up,
Into the mouth of this ancient thing.
I pull out my canteen and cup,
And toast this southern California king.

It truly is an awesome sight,
There's Basalt and Pumice everywhere.
And we descend in the fading light,
Into a wondrous Alien world.

Up we look from inside the throat,
To the twilight slowly creeping o'er.
And back up we go like mountain goats,
Leaving behind the volcano's floor.

And now we're starting down real slow,
Picking our way with careful feet.
Down to the desert floor we go,
Where evening, has lessened the desert heat.

5/20/10 29 palms ca.