The Edge of Forever
Lost as I may be
In the fog of my own noise and triviality
Grand Holy Mother, grant me clarity
I am standing on the edge of forever, forever
— Grand Canyon, by Puscifer
On a recent trip out west, I was able to see the rock formations in Death Valley. Humbling in scope and mammoth in scale, it brought forth in me a renewal of sorts; a re-awakening to the grand beauty of our landscape. It took many millions of years for these rocks to push their way beyond the surface of the earth to form what we see today. It was stunning.
The rocks cut through and demolished any sense I had in the moment of what was real by proudly exclaiming ‘I am!’ Digital worlds we inhabit through our screens are no match for this spectacle. The transient nature of modern life with its fleeting moments, meaningless consumption, inauthenticity, and straight lines were overshadowed by a strong sense of ‘this is the way it is. Take it or leave it.’
Stone and sky showed me
To dance to the natural
Rhythm of my soul
The mouth of the Golden Canyon swallowed hikers as they made their way down the trail. It was here that I was able to get up close and take a look at the textures and contrast brought forth by the afternoon sun
Later, while traveling along the Artists Drive, new landscapes emerged. The minerals in the rock give each mountain range it’s own character and luminance. Passing clouds allowed for the merging of stone and sky, and by taking a few steps here or there, I attempted to merge the two. My ears were filled with a deafening silence. I welcomed a light breeze as it whisked over my skin. My eyes couldn’t look away.
Camouflage canvas
Dried, jagged, and full of life
Mocks modern ego
I made my way over to Zabriskie Point for sunset on Easter Sunday. My love of silhouettes came to life as I watched people go up and down the walkway that leads to the lookout. While taking in the spectacle of a setting sun over the point, I made time to work the human element into the scene. A street photographer sensibility came in handy as I worked to not ‘disturb the scene’ or ‘wear out my welcome’ whilst taking my time looking for a shot.
Sensing silent song
Power emerges, buzzing
Shrouded and unseen
In the beginning of this essay, I thought it befitting to include some of the lyrics to the song Grand Canyon by the band Puscifer. It swirled around in my head from time to time as I traveled to each new location over the course of two days.
The scenes cut straight through the noise, revealing a surreal grace and power that was hard to deny. Perhaps this is what it means to be standing on the edge of forever.
