I come upon a crystal circle,
a fragile wheel of healing,
spun along the edge of early mornings cliffs
whose steep and rocky slope drops down, down
to the broad, silent sweep of the Arkansas.

I step within this ring of glowing stones
holding breath for the wonder of it–
its spokes and rim a celestial prayer
ever prisming the sacred ridge line.

Text and image © 2012 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.