I wrote this poem for my creative writing class.  It has a few lists in it.  See if you can find them!

 

I stared at the red rock below.

It stared back at me.
I struck a pose with my camera to remember my victory—
The day I conquered this canyon.
Then something caught the interest of my deep vibrant eyes,
Something that made me pause before I clicked the camera again.
The land stared—defiantly—back at me.
“What have you done to defeat me?” it asked with a half a smile.
“Well,” I replied, “I’ve stepped where none have stepped.”
“You think so?  Well look again, you stranger.
See the trails etched upon my ground?
Those are proof that you’re not the first who’s stepped around.
See the marks upon my walls, the black and white and red?
Those aren’t things that say this land’s not tread.
Look at the camps, the tools, the homes!
All this evidence is that creatures roam.
Those in the past have conquered before.
Do you think you’ve left your score?”
Humbled greatly as I found each thing,
I looked my shoes and saw my footprints…
They would be gone the next time it rained.
I saw the flag I pushed into the earth…
It, too, would be gone the next strong breeze.
At last, I viewed the picture I’d took…
It could vanish with any carelessness.
I had not come here very first,
Nor even left a trace.
A desire filled me bitter and clear,
One to record that I was here…
Or there…
Or anywhere!
“Do not worry, traveler man.
There plenty of ways to get a mark—
For example, why not make this a park?
I wouldn’t suggest destroying the land
Or even making lots of fans,
Those two things won’t serve you at all—
Why, that’s the way for marks to fall!
So pick a plan,
young traveler man,
And maybe with some luck,
You’ll look back here and see with joy
The mark that you have struck.”
I smiled at the vast red rock and thought about its words.
Perhaps my picture, shoes, and flag…
Might in the past begin to lag.