I Once Fell Off A Mountain Poem by Juan Olivarez

I once fell off a mountain, I'd long wanted to climb.
I tracked upwards for hours, it all seemed so sublime.
And finally at the summit, I surveyed the great southwest,
Twenty Nine palms below, I thought I'd passed the test.

But descending proved much harder though,
It was hard on my bony knees.
But still I enjoyed the Santana's warm flow,
That western warming breeze.

But half way down on desert gravel,
My feet could not sustain their hold.
And very quick downward I traveled,
My face looking for California gold.

There was a boulder the size of an SUV,
That mercifully decided to save my life.
And held me tight, before my soul could flee,
And returned me to my sweet wife.

They built a casino, at the base of my mountain,
To keep fools like me away.
Now I'm in Texas, on a level plain,
I'll be here till my dying day.

4/7/2019
Alton, Texas