At the base of the Cascades is a park
filled with statues of various designs.
I’m fascinated by the creativity of others.
I see two figures
sitting on platforms high above me,
looking out across the horizon,
a blue penguin holds an orb in its mouth,
a man emerges from a steel wall,
a naked overweight woman
sunbathes on a towel,
a silver man kneels laughing hysterically,
a wire teapot,
a menacing lion,
a silver pirate with two wooden legs,
two hooked hands,
and two silver parrots
on his two shoulders,
and an overweight warrior,
naked except for his helmet, shield, and sword.
Guards protect the park
while dogs laze about on the concrete,
and a lone black cat
weaves itself around a statue
– strange but true – of a black cat.
I count 555 steps
as I top the Cascades.
There are supposed to be 572,
so either I’ve miscounted badly
or some have been removed at the top
where there is a construction gap
between the Cascades
and the Monumental Terrace.
I climb back down to the top terrace,
where I find wheezing teenagers just arriving.
They address a fellow student
emerging from the inner building,
“Hey, shame on you. You cheated.”
The fellow student, I see,
is fresh from taking the escalator up.
I see a couple of people running the steps
as part of their training regimen.
Two lovers have stopped on a step
to embrace and kiss.
Two young women with Botox lips
take pictures of themselves
with Mount Ararat in the background.
Ah, but this is now.
Now, on my second climb to the top.
Now, when it’s packed with tourists.
This morning,
I climbed up here early,
but a bit too late for the sunrise.
I saw the skies were clear
and wanted a view of Mount Ararat.
I was not alone.
At the top terrace,
seated along a stone bench
and along some of the garden walls
were dozens of people sitting quietly,
phones put away,
staring out at Mount Ararat.
It was peaceful,
quiet,
contemplative.
I spent an hour there
and others were there longer.
And though the crowd
changes by afternoon to tourists,
most of whom simply glance at Mount Ararat,
take selfies or pictures of their
friends and families,
stare at their phones,
and then leave,
I shall cherish my morning meditation
among others of the same mindset,
my tribe.
