Dakota
I found no home here
Everything is grey and colorless
I miss the colors
Where are the colors?
The town falls asleep at nine o’clock
The traffic is relentless — for a town of twelve citizens
Why is everything so cold?
I wanted the personal attention of a small town
I wanted the anonymity of walking through a busy downtown
I miss knowing where to go
I miss knowing what to do
I miss having something to do
Am I just here for school?
Is that all this town is?
I miss Nebraska
I miss the sun!
I miss having a place to go
Why is it so grey and dull here?
I know nothing about this place
How could I understand this place?
What is there here for me in Dakota?
I needed a break
To visit the falls
The water is rough today
The fog embraces me in its “hug”
The foam takes off from the crevasse like birds migrating south
I wish I could join the foam
I want to get out of here
I feel the water falling from my soaked sleeves
The rain never stops here
How is it so cold?
It’s always so cold
I just want to be able to wear a t-shirt in September
I miss wearing a t-shirt in September
At home I could wear a t-shirt in September
I miss home
Maybe I just need to get out of this cold spray
I’m just being bitter for no reason
Let’s get off the bridge
Maybe it’s time to explore
I have never seen the top
What could be any different up there?
At the very least some respite from this horrid fog
I begin my voyage
I feel like Ferdinand Magellan —
If Ferdinand Magellan knew the other side of the world was cold and wet
I start up the Northeast side of the falls
Climbing
Dripping
How far until the top
The foam creates marshmallows in the grass where it lands
I’m near the top
Dripping less now
There’s the railing
I approach
The view
The small skyline
Is that a clock?
I can see the construction from here
What building is that?
The water seems to be resting up here
I appreciate this calm
A breath
This really isn’t my home
A breath
I guess I didn’t expect this to be my home
A breath
How could this be my home?
A breath
This doesn’t have to be my Nebraska
A slight breath
Peace
By: Nathan Johnson
I am currently a sophomore Economics/Elementary Education major. I am originally
from Lincoln, Nebraska and am a student at Augustana University.