The Sentinel - An Ode to Chad Kellogg
by Dan Sears
fragrant skin of flora, fauna vast
upon soil of upheaval, painful past
barren, craggy, verdant face (less) wall
imbued with weather-worn rugged grace
stuttering rows of ragged granite into schist
bathed in gauzy clouds forming damp mist
stone and clover, mossy blanket crest
delicate white ribbons draped abreast
i speak across time in rushes loudly
from my brow eyes gaze proudly
with verglassed ears kissing the sky
floating feathers gracefully airborne fly
my stormy breath, descending swirling mists
wild flower rainbow hues blanket my fists
whispering voices upon the wind forlornly I hear
in my wooded brambles playful are the deer
soaring eagle's nest woven tightly
buzzing insects flit about brightly
the owl's plaintive hoot emerges
my beards' silent thicket surges
bark of elk, flitting of bee and hopping of hare
many man-made webs do ensnare
springs tumble forth from my windswept crown
all manner of real and mythical creature abound
roaming upon a broad shouldered slope
cob-webbed hair thick of dynamic rope
arms of meandering blue valleys, feet of deep chasm
traversing snow fields, crevasses slowly spasm
sky, water, rock of abundance
feather, fish, flora suckle of sustenance
ever changing yet resolute at dawns warm glow
soft dappled light fades ravagingly slow
conquerer, vanquisher are unwelcome here
for I will take you without shedding a tear
love, pure intention and energy matter
insight and awe, wonder, flowing spirit, water
a brief fog-shrouded vignette of the whole
the exposure of a tender, majestic soul
an ancient future I feel deep inside
a sentinel of the land and the living, his changing tide
Copyright © 2014 by Dan Sears. Used with permission of the author.
About This Poem
“I received news of Chad’s passing while traveling in SE Asia, shortly after seeing him in Thailand. Earlier, I had been in New Zealand exploring big mountains on foot. On those daily forays I was struck by the duality of life and nature, how we impose ourselves on places that stir our wonder and awe. This poem is an expression of that duality interwoven with Chad’s essence (as I felt it). A reflection on an intense man of duality, of light and dark, of inspiration and perspiration and exasperation, bearing witness to his profound impact on those around him. We were fortunate to share experiences and to call him a friend. While his passing is only temporal for me, I miss him and see his spirit flying high in those mountains he so revered. This is the first poem I’ve written that I’ve ever shared."
—Dan Sears, Feb 2014














