Norman, I sought you
As I crossed once more
The vast free lands
Of Nevada--
Green this year
From an adequate winter--
And crossing it all
In one easy day,
From the Humboldt Wells
To the Sierra watered
Meadows of the Truckee.

Yes, Norman,
In a century-and-a-half
The way West
Hasn't changed much:
Crossing the Bear
Just below Hampton's Ford
And still following
Hensley's route west
Toward the gold fields.

And we, the other children
Of Elias and Cynthia
(Surely more than a thousand now),
Have not forgotten
The blind son,
Healed by the prophet,
And swallowed up mysteriously
By the Wild West.

07/12/2006

Author's Note: According to family legend: My Grandfather's Uncle Normon was born blind, but healed by the Prophet Joseph Smith. When they came west (with much difficult and sacrifice), Norman went on to California and simply disappeared. Someone said he died in Nevada from "poison berries." But some believe he just never came back home.

Posted on 07/12/2006
Copyright © 2025 Leonard M Hawkes