THE LUCK OF LITTLE

 LICK CREEK  

On progress made for slow travel

Across our Tar Heel state.

Why should a mortal dare to hike

The mountains to the sea

Nine hundred miles of slow foot work

Tick bite and swollen knee?

At first there was a trading path

And then a wagon walk

Soon followed asphalt thoroughfares 

Why now turn back the clock? 

Perhaps our life on Planet Earth

Has grown too fast to bear

New high speed trains and aeroplanes

Such madness in the air.

Sleek hybrid cars of diverse make                           

Presume to save us gas                                

But can we curb our appetites                  

Behind their tinted glass?                            

Communication flows nonstop

We surf the world wide web

Then coddle cell phones in the woods

And take them to our bed.

The atmosphere is heating up

But yet we play the fool

Could slow travel reverse this trend

And help our Planet cool?

A rough hewn trail cut through the brush

Is all that is required

Good landowners and volunteers 

The hearts of those inspired,

To sight a bird, embrace a tree

The simple things in life

To plant a dream and watch it grow

Then pluck it while its ripe.

To read a map and plan a hike

Then go forth strong and fit                                                 

Recover from our disorder

Of Nature deficit.           

So with this trail we dedicate

Our lives to slowing down

To soak up beauty out of doors

Our two feet on the ground. 

And with the luck of Little Lick Creek

One day we’ll celebrate                   

From Clingman’s Dome to Jockey’s RIdge

A slow trail consummate.