Cliff Cave: A Tale of Two Seasons
indian cave
in the earthen floor
the stone tools they once used
Today, “Indian Cave,” is also known as Cliff Cave, the largest known cavern in St. Louis County. The Osage still consider this area to be sacred ground.
I had my first encounter with Cliff Cave during a July
summer. The heat spell had been going on for 15 days. We had no
air-conditioning. Our Sunday prayers for snow went unanswered.
box fan
the whir of humidity
encircles us
We were all ready to snap. Dad decided enough was enough. He
told my sister and me to get in the car.
windows rolled down
the sound of skin sticking
to leather seats
Even though the sun was setting, temps were still in the
90s. We dreaded every stoplight. Finally, we reached Cliff Cave Road.
a sense of relief
the arch of trees
shading our journey
It was the perfect prelude to the cave. Dad found a turnout.
We drank luke-warm water from a thermos and took our flashlights. The trail was
steep and rocky in places.
searching for stability
I keep sliding backwards
in my tennis shoes
There’s a sudden change in the air when we reach the mouth
of the cave. It’s like being near a river when it’s dark. We stayed near the
entrance. Dad said it would be too easy to get lost if we went any further.
every now and then
a cold rain
from the cave’s ceiling
An hour past sunset, we left the cave. The warmth of the
summer night felt good. Maybe we would sleep tonight. Maybe it would rain.
Today, Cliff Cave is a county park. The cave itself is
closed to the public. Even so, it’s good to walk on the same trails I used to
hike with my family.
autumn
the oaks and hickories
welcome me back