The Cliffs

There’s a place in Pennsylvania Where my cousin lives That I escape to often in my mind. A most wondrous scene It is my favorite place. Its beauty is one of a kind. I went there last summer To have some fun In the cringing heat of July. It is not a common place Like anywhere I’ve been. It is unreal, majestic, no lie. This place is The Cliffs, Known for its title, The shore of a lively river. To get there we hiked Up a thick, hilly forest And a chilly, gentle wind made me shiver. Along with the wind, Whistling like the birds, There was so much more I could hear. The crunching of leaves, The snapping of twigs, Was simply music to my ears. We approached the top I couldn’t believe my eyes As the gold sun glittered and shone. The abundance of trees Of emerald and green Stood as shade for the patterned walls of stone. The pleasurable smell Of clean, crisp air Made me sigh a big wave of content. The coconut sunscreen Smothered on my skin Was another comforting scent. I was unskilled In what we did next So my cousin did a demonstration. Her feet pitter-pattered Down to a few lower boulders And she briefly paused in meditation. In the next instant She launched off the cliff And swiftly sailed through the air. the giant splash of the water And her disappearance Put me into immediate despair. When she resurfaced I felt myself calm Then her beckoning voice broke my thoughts. I tiptoed down A few rough, rocky levels With my stomach all tied up in knots. I took a peak down, Not a smart plan, And saw an infinite plummet. With a burst of courage And a giant leap, I jumped not knowing how I’d done it. My adrenaline rushing And wind whisking by me I thought that my heart would burst. Then my toe tapped the surface Of the glistening river And suddenly I was immersed. It was easy to swim Back up to the surface And I giddily squealed my thrill. The water lingering On my plump, red lips Had a saturated, salty taste. The water was chilly But the rays of the sun Were gentle, warm arms I embraced. Down in the water The whiting plopped out of the stream, Their fishy scent reminded me of home. After a few hours of play and serenity, The setting sun told us ‘twas time to go. As we carefully climbed Up the slippery, wet cliffs I knew this place I’d never forget, And taking that dangerous Dive off the edge Was something I’d never regret. We returned back home To a family barbeque. The smell of ribs and charcoal filled the air, Along with freshly cut grass And the pool’s chlorine. I smiled and sunk deep down in my chair.