Wilderness Interface Zone

At five in the morn I gaze upon the Earth
Holding my little one so innocent and mild.
Hoping that I might have a chance
To feel her trails of glory

The midnight rain ended soon,
Leaving clean the outside world
I glanced through a crack to catch a glimpse
Of  Nature’s hallowed view.

Crisp, Clean, Calm the scene lay before my eyes.
Each tree that stood was a glory to itself
Unstained by human hands,
They did not need nor did they want
Help from tainted man.
Their holiness from nature came
To that I could not add.

The air itself was pure, pristine
I could see it had been cleansed.
To be outside would be bring great joy;
To be rapt in that;
To be in Nature’s arms
I feel would clean me too.

The mountains loomed, lords of all,
In fearful, frightening stare.
The driven snow adorned their caps
Unsullied by man’s cares.
To be in their view held me in awe;
The giants of the world.
They had naught to be ashamed
As pure as the snow they bore

I looked upon this scene and wondered:
Could I find something such as this?
How can I, tainted as I am
Embrace this holy view
That I might hold forever,
That I might grasp and make it mine,
That I might have it too,
To be washed clean from filth and dirt,
That I might be pure too?

Then I looked at my child
This Innocence in my arms.
I realized then I had something
That the World refused to find.
Her purity can not be matched
Except by one small Lamb;
And I can hold her innocence,
And love her all I can.

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Travis has always wanted to write poetry and prose but never seriously did anything about it until he took an Introduction to British Literature class and read the Romantic, Victorian and Modern era British poets. Inspired by Wordsworth, Hardy and others, he finally began writing while he continues to finish his Bachelors in History. His current project is an epic poem written specifically for Latter-day Saints, which he hopes to have published within two years. He currently resides in Montana with his wife of 6 years and two children with a third on the way.

*Contest entry*