Strap on the map, a strip of landscape
scrolls on your knee board:
climb north from town through a gap
in the ridge, cross the switchback
on the mountain. Pick up
the west branch of the river—
look sharp, five small houses,
follow the white gravel road.
South of the next town stretch pastures
you can land on in a pinch if you need
to get down, but take good care,
from a thousand feet up, brooks disappear,
gullies vanish. Knolls flatten; marshes
green up like meadows. Watch out
for wires, telephone poles, tall trees.
Beware a herd of sleepy cows,
keep an eye skinned
for a flock of muddy sheep.