PoetsKarlaK.MortonandAlanBirkelbachbeganthisjourneytocelebrateournationalparks’onehundredthanniversary,butforthesetwopoetsthesojournsquicklybecamesomethinggreaterthanthat.Intheirwords,“Ashumanswehavethistendencytolookatapieceoflandandseerealestate.[But]whenconcretecoversallournaturalspaces,notonlydoweloseearth’screatures,wealsolosethegreatteacherofoursouls.YoucannotsitbeneathtreestallerthantheStatueofLiberty,orgazeuponvistasuntouchedsincetheircreation,withoutfeelingtheaweandwonderofwhatthenaturalworldhastooffer.Youcannotexperiencesuchbeautywithoutbeingwhollychanged.Ourgreat-great-great-grandchildrendeservetheseuntouchedgifts.“Thisjourney,illustratedwithgorgeouscolorphotosofallofAmerica’sgrandnationalparks,isafeastfortheeyesandheart.Intheend,itisapleaforustosavethesewondersforallfuturegenerations.
