Haiku for a trip to Mammoth Cave

Haiku for a trip to Mammoth Cave
By Rachel Puga

Can’t wait for our trip.
Four hour drive to Mammoth Cave,
road burgers and fries.

Getting in too late
to make it to back country.
First night car camping.

Oatmeal for breakfast.
Nothing like a good hot meal
after night on the ground.

Three miles trail running.
Hiyasas finally broke in.
My new favorite shoes.

Share trails with horses-
an ankle twisting good time.
Can’t wait for the tour.

Three mile, three hour tour-
Finally some cooler air,
54 year round.

Questions about caves.
They don’t call them cave-ins now,
“Breakdown” is less scary.


Went to Cave City
for some decent dinner food.
A&W will suffice.

Walking to the camp
it smells like honeysuckle.
Oh wait, it’s horse poop.

Halfway to our site,
husband found his second wind.
Hope I can keep up.

My Camelbak flops.
Husband thinks it’s so funny.
His turn to carry.

I write as I hike.
Chicken scratch, illegible.
I hope I don’t trip.


Husband disappears.
Doesn’t want to wait for me
as I write haikus.

Like a graceful leaf,
I descend into the mud.
Wait for help to come.

Husband pulls me up.
It’s starting to get dark now,
Almost to our site.

Made it to our site.
Hear mysterious music.
Got my pepper spray.

Morning, time to leave.
Yay- a muddy, sweaty pack.
Ruins my last clean shirt.