Beach Glass
Merrill, I have made your acquaintance,
traversing these park trails, the beaten track,
during off-hours, when all is quiet.
I swear your spirit still roams
here
quiet stride on spruce-needled paths,
treasures (bark, clam shell, raven feather) positioned on wood benches -
a photographer’s dream; an artist’s haven.
Have you tasted the season’s early salmonberries, crimson and orange?
You leave me to speculate -
explore vague snippets of information,
musty magazines and out-of-print books.
Beach glass among rock.
-Kersten Christianson
Sitka, Alaska
Note: E.W. Merrill was a turn-of-the-century art photographer in Sitka, Alaska. He also served as the first official custodian of Sitka National Historical Park from 1919-1922. His photographs capture the diversity and beauty of culture found here.