In God's Valley

 

I remember how the valley opened

up before us; how the mountains rose

so sharp, so steep, the only visual 

to compare were the climbers

ascending the sheer rock face,

up so high they looked like tiny ants

scattered across the escarpment.  

And the waterfalls...how could

there be so many waterfalls? 

Each one more stunning, 

more glorious, than the last;

their waters echoing and reverberating 

against the palisades as they raced

to the valley below. And the air,

so clean and fresh, underscored

with heady aromas of earth and pine.

Was there ever anything so pure,

so uncontaminated?

We stood in awe, trying to imagine 

being the first to discover this valley,

this vista, that lay before us,

feeling every bit the small and insignificant

creatures we were among

such majestic surroundings.

Truly, if there were a heaven, it would be

this unblemished vale, pristine and perfect, 

far removed from the grime and 

the bumbling ineptitude of humankind

 

©Ginny Brannan

Top Image: View of Yosemite Valley. Called the "Tunnel View, a scenic overlook of the valley on 41 south heading toward the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias

Bottom Image: El Capitan, a granite monolith 3,000 feet from base to summit popular with rock climbers.

 

Both images taken by author, June 1985

The name Yosemite itself is from the Indian word "uzamate," which meant grizzly bear. The tribe that lived in the valley were called Yosemites by Caucasians and other tribes because they lived in a place where grizzly bears were common, and they were reportedly skilled at killing the bears. The "literal" meaning of Yosemite is "Those who kill" from a Miwok Tribe word.