“A Footpath,
For Those Who Seek Fellowship,
With The Wilderness.”
Inscription Chiseled On A Rock
On my recent journey southward
I followed, another type of path
Unlike the very sad Trail of Tears
I truly hope, that this one will last
It’s our nation’s longest footpath
It stretches, well over, 2,000 miles
It provides haven, for wild animals
To wilderness lovers, it brings smiles
It still traverses, eight of our national forests
It still touches, fourteen of our eastern states
More than 10,000 people, have hiked its length
With future generations of Americans, lies its fate
It is now sadly being chipped away, piece by piece
Modern development, will eventually, destroy it all
It’s called The Appalachian Trail; completed in 1937
And, it’s well worth wandering, even a little, if not all
It’s like, an extremely lengthy series of very skinny islands, of ‘wild’
Completely surrounded by farmland, factories, and our urban sprawl
It contains, the remnants of numerous endangered plants and animals
I sincerely hope that efforts will be taken to preserve it, for one and all
On this wandering trek, I was extremely fortunate to both hear and see
Several types of endangered birds, singing and flitting, through its trees
And, these were birds that I don’t often get to see, up in the northwood
So, this wild and wondrous old Footpath, truly brought some joy, to me
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to the preservation and management of the many natural, scenic, historic, and cultural resources associated with this National Scenic Trail, in order to provide primitive outdoor-recreation and educational opportunities for all its visitors.
Much of the land that the old Appalachian Trail still follows has been logged or farmed at some time during the last four centuries. And, except for black bears, bobcats, and coyotes, most of its large natural predators have already been exterminated by modern man.
©2009, Mr. Ed
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Georg
Be always safe,
Karen
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :D *grins*
love and hugs
mary etta
Regis
Blessings! Jasmin Horst
It's true of all places in our country. In my home, I'm seeing the once grand desert being eaten by progess. And as Cat Stevens once said about progress, but "where will the children play"
Mary
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.