Machu Picchu
Approaching the realm of the condor
I ascend stairs of stone
Deep breaths expand my lungs and mind
Transported by magnificence
I imagine the puma stalking his prey without fear.
Built without wheels or written words
Knowledge kept alive through textiles and storytelling
Knots of rope tabulating the harvest
I count the steps and bravely climb, afraid to fall.
Touching the clouds
I feel the labor of many hands
Pushing, pulling, shifting the weight and burden
Of boulders, the mountain’s power
The secrets of Mother Earth pressing beneath my feet
I stand amazed.
————Nadja Maril 1/25/2015
