“Some Words for the Week”

I remember trying to open

the door to the high school

in what felt like a hundred

mile per hour wind

pressing both my feet

against the wall

my hands on the door handle

to no avail until the gust let up

I’ve seen shingles in the air

snow falling perpendicular

to the frozen ground

I’ve felt my car heave

like it was hit by something

massive and unseen

in the gale force off the divide

all my life I’ve heard complaints

about the wind

almost as much as I’ve heard

about the tourists

but don’t you see the wind

is why this place is mostly

still what it used to be

that roar of air

is what keeps up from becoming

little Breckenridge or Vail

the wind blesses this place

makes people think twice

about living here

only settling if they really want to

and so when your roof seems

ready to tear off the rafters

as the whistle turns to a scream

thank that old voice

of the high mountain

for all that we have

all that we’ve been able to hold

Alexander Shalom Joseph is a writer from Gilpin County. He has two published books and one more forthcoming in the Fall of 2022. For more information and to subscribe to Alexander’s Newsletter go to alexandershalomjoseph.com