Canyon Grande

A grand picture... Construction began when the earth was half as old,
the land naked rock, skies full of dust, the air foul and cold.
Mountains rose,
Contorted,
Fell again, carried off to lifeless ocean.
Volcanos blasted,
Belched,
Earthquakes ruptured all in motion.

Warm seas came in, shed debris and left, over and again
In the interlude stark empty desert, humid river plain.
Armoured crabs,
Burrowed,
Muddy ooze encases skeleton
Lizards scurried,
push-ups,
Under the searing ancient sun.

Layer upon layer, eon upon epoch, the building complete
A vast plateau, blank canvas, waits, for an artist to meet.
River the sculpter,
slices,
Undercuts the pages of time.
Sharp edges,
Smoothed,
By patient abrasive wind chime.