Checkerboard Mesa

I want to write about this.

It's Checkerboard Mesa and it resides in Zion National Park in Utah. I've visited the park two times, and each time I'm fascinated by this big rock. For three years it has been on my list of pieces I want to do for my National Park project - but I just haven't been able to tackle it.

The project is a series of essays and poems about the western National Parks we've visited over the past couple of decades. I just can't decide if this needs a poem, or if it needs an essay.

Certainly part of the problem is that each time we've gone to Zion, we just quickly drive by Checkerboard on the way into the tunnel and to the bottom of the canyon where the main part of the park is nestled next to the Virgin River. Once you're down there, it's not an easy drive back up all the switchbacks to return.

Tom and I are planning a trip to Zion in late October and this time we're going to pull over and spend some time visiting with Checkerboard. Then maybe it will tell me what it wants - my poetry or my prose. I'm looking forward to the meeting!