The Long Path trailhead parking lot–filled to capacity. All the lonely people–mostly from New Jersey–have arrived to embrace nature and unleash that howl they’ve pent up all week. In the course of exercising their resolve at this fixture of Harriman State Park, they leave a lot of trash behind.
That’s why we’ve come with so many garbage bags.
Life service hours
another session of
picking up the trash
Even before we step foot under a canopy, loads of litter lie around parked cars and on footpaths just beyond. We fill three heavy-duty plastic bags with plastic water bottles (whole and otherwise), sealed beer bottles, crumpled metal cans, tires, tarps, abandoned clothes, and all other varieties of trash.
It’s a wonder we didn’t bottom-out the car on that bump in the road as we exited the lot.
westward sun
the moss-covered steps
down to Barnes lake
Once we park at the next lot, we wander down the cracked-pavement of an abandoned road. More scattered trash lay in the flanking underbrush. After a rest at Lake Barnes, we tread lightly along an unmarked trail, until we reach yet Lake Massawippa. There is yet more litter to clean. It’s piled up this Spring, with no volunteer groups available to clean it up.
But at least I find a wildflower to give Mira as we make our way back.
gurgling brook
another breeze across
rippling water
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Categories: haikai, haiku community
Frank J. Tassone 
Why don’t those lonely people take their trash home with them? I admire your resolve to keep the parkland clean. I hope that it stays that way after the pandemic. The wildflower is a lovely touch, Frank, and I love the final haiku, so refreshing!
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Many trail-maintenance volunteers and other clean-up crews can’t work because of NY Pause and comparable state shutdowns. They will be back once the states reopen, so hopefully the parks will remain clear of trash. Thanks, Kim! 🙂
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Such a beautiful lake! I’m glad someone is looking after it. I too love the wildflower for Mira, and the final haiku.
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Thank you, Rosemary! 🙂
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Beautiful haiku❣️It’s so hard to understand why people are so careless. Good on you for the clean up. So happy there are still flowers to pick❣️👏🙏
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Indeed, Ellecee. Thank you! 🙂
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My goodness that is one stunning lake! 💝💝 I wish people wouldn’t litter around so much. I admire your determination to keep the area clean 🙂
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Thank you, Sanna. We did have an ulterior motive; our son needed service hours for his next advancement in scouting. 😉
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