Finding Chris McCandless in Utah

of all places, in the empty orange and reds
dusted with dry thriving sage and
ancient twisted trees carrying leaves
like needles. Among slotted canyons, spooky
and narrow as the space between my
claustrophobic praying hands, I found him.
Reading a story I meant to open,
but never could indoors, he talks of a
predecessor who disappeared
in these sunset lands where I am standing,
with a map; my trail sketched free hand.
The dappled light from our dry brush fire
illuminates a camp made among
flash flood sands and debris; we pack
up for higher and less hallowed ground.
He wouldn’t have to tell us twice.

Brittany Faith Harmon originally hails from Yakima, WA, but currently calls Seattle home.