Your guides may read this poem during the last night on the river. It was written by a past guest and is an excellent depiction of a Grand Canyon rafting trip. We think it does a good job capturing the magic of the canyon!
So, I’m back in the city
And my friends all exclaim,
So, you had a good time… well, you look ‘in pain’
Your lips are cracked, and your hair’s like straw!
Your legs are bruised, and your knees are raw!
Your nails are broken, you’ve gained weight,
How can you say that your trip was great?
Your sunburn’s peeling…it sure is a “beaut’
It looks like you’re wearing a camouflage suit!
So, you had a good time…well, you ‘tell me’
You look like you just came through World War Three!
Listen, my friend said, carefully,
and I will tell you what this all means to me.
My bruises will fade, and my bones will heal
My skin will be soft underneath the peel
My hair will recover, and so will my lips
And I’ll get those 10 pounds off my hips
But the memories I’ve stored, will not fade away
They will be with me, to my dying day
The whitewater thrills, and the red canyon walls
The Indian ruins, and pure waterfalls
The fun with new friends, and boatman tall tales:
Boatman great cooking and whitewater wails
Yes, the memories I’ve made will not fade away
They will be with me, to my dying day.
By Shirley Hopka June 21, 1983