The Gates of Ladore by Phoebe Fulkerson
This river trip was sure a score
We were issued a permit down the Gates of Ladore.
Nothing less, nothing more,
The Gates of Ladore, the gates of Ladore.
Praise to a trip that was heaven sent
Nothing borrowed, little spent
Down the river the 5 of us went
Beyond the road, beyond the fence
And what we found was much, much more
Than what they call the Gates of Ladore
We found a mysteriously enchanted door
That called us nearer to come and explore.
There’s nothing left to hide no more
Once you have opened the gates of Ladore
Forget all your troubles and the world of war
And enter the swirling world of Ladore.
Let go of dishwashers and kitchen floors
Your worries won’t feel so bad no more
You have something much better in store
During and after the Canyon of Ladore
Let it all go, wash it all off,
Give in to the babbling, gurgling froth
The waves, the days, are all without cost
Shake it all, whirl it all, twirl it all off.
The Canyon of echoes brings a lone black goat
Down the Green River we float, we float.
Belongings tied down with straps and ropes
Pounding rapids in our riverboat.
Gently flowing, not really knowing
Where we are going, what the canyon is showing.
But as we pass through the water is clearer,
Cleaner and bluer,
Humans fewer.
You are now in Ladore.
Unwind, unwind,
Let your soul shine
Now is the time
Leave it behind.
And as you go you’ll find your soul
Starts to dance with the river
Your heart starts to quiver
With the boundless light
No end in sight
No need to fight,
Or to fear the night.
Tossing and giggling,
Bouncing rapture
Impossible to capture
In a camera’s picture.
Or with English words
A joy that glitters absurd
Tossing and giggling,
Lapping and spinning.
One night we camp on Cougar beach
It’s been a long day
In the spiraling waves.
We hit the shore, as the world turns dark
Tomorrow we enter Island Park
With its bibbling bubbles
And simple streams
And beaches that reach from our hearts to our dreams.
Cat scat on shore
We are leaving Ladore
Spaghetti and salad
Under the stars.
Schools of minnows
Jumping and popping
Never seen that
On a river Shore
But then this is Ladore
With its unique cohorts
Fish, birds, and animals
Of a magical sort.
Humpback chub and bass
Nearly each cast
Alas, alas, we must pass, we must pass.
Catfish and trout
Swimming about
A lone black moose,
A wild goose.
Bighorn sheep, lone black goats
Down the river we drift
In our tiny ship.
This was once the land of the dinosaurs
More than any shore, visited before
Perhaps we are passing through Nevermore.
Edgar Allan Poe
Did he know?
About this place
Of exceeding grace?
Hummingbirds, sparrows,
Golden eagles
Great blue heron, egrets,
Very few people.
All of the animals living in peace.
Don’t care about us
In our entranced hush.
They’ve seen it before
In the Canyon Ladore.
Leaving no trace
This is not a race
I do not want to leave
To the heavens I plead.
Beyond the road, beyond the fence
The gift of Ladore is heaven sent
All aboard, all aboard
Without a word
We left to explore
The gates of Ladore.
You swam in lagoons
And you howled to the moon.
You drifted the rapids
And something happened
From this time hence I can say for sure
You’ve been granted the cure
You have been made pure.
Baptized and blessed
By the river you wept.
And the salt from your tears will stay there for years.
You will miss this place
Everyday.
But keep your eye on the grace
And the twinkle in your face.
Your heart will yearn
But you will return
Someday to this place
Have faith, have faith.
The ancients will call you back for more,
When you most need Ladore
Like a samurai sword
The Gates of Ladore.
L’adore= French for LOVE
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