Some favorite poems from the Doug Follett collection
Editor’s note: On the passing of renowned Glacier National Park Ranger-Naturalist Doug Follett, we thought it appropriate to publish two of his poems this week: This first is titled “The Spirits of Sperry,” the second “Come Back in September.”
Both were featured in a 2005 edition of the Hungry Horse News.
Come with me to Sperry Chalet
Where the grizzlies roam
And the white goats play
Where the marmots whistle
Splits the Sky
And the Eagles shadow
Tells you why.
Walk where wolverines
Play in the snow
On a warm spring day
When the waterfalls
Go with a rush
To the lake below
And on to find their destiny
So far away-in the quiet sea.
Gather at night
When the day is done
And the firelight
Laughs at the setting sun
And join all the ghosts
Of days gone by
Who come out to dance
When the moon is high.
And as you leave
When it’s time to go
And you stop to wave
From the trail below
I think you’ll see
With the Sperry crew
Your spirit—
Waving back at you.
Come Back in September
And walk with me
On the Garden Wall
On an autumn day
When the wild geese call
As they head south
For the winter stay
In far away places
Like Uruguay
Walk with me
And see the goats
On the mountainside
In their new white coats
Standing bright
Against the sky
Looking down on you and I
Come to the place
Where the eagles fly
And tumble wildly
Through the sky
Giving truth
To Ancient words
That sometimes
Love is for the birds
Walk with me
Where bighorns climb
And do a dance
As old as time
Banging heads
‘Till they might die
And never even
Asking why
Come with me
Where the Sentry’s whistle
Warns the world
Of a deadly missile
Not on two legs
Nor on four
But from the sky
With a sudden roar
That takes a life
In a single breath
And is gone again
On wings of death
Walk with me
Where the grizzlies roam
And see the places
They call home
Alpine meadows
Flower filled
Hanging valleys
Glacier chilled
Lords of everything
They see
The world around
And you and me
Walk with me
When north winds blow
And whisper
Of the coming snow
Tossing golden leaves
On high
As summer bids
A sad goodbye
These and other things
You’ll see-
If you will come
And walk with me!