I panned for gold near Turquoise Lake
On a lonely stretch of the river

West of Leadville, on a sunny day,

Wearing only my dungarees, rolled up,

Over my knees, and no shirt, 

Just a wide brimmed straw hat,

That kept the sun out of my face.

I found a few tiny pieces

Of gold as I stood stooped 

In that cold clear water

That rushed all day around me

And brisked away down the mountainside.

I wanted to save the two pieces

Of gold, but found I'd lost my pouch
Out of my backpack.

I did find a baggie within a baggie

With a cupcake paper inside.

I'd eaten the sweet treat earlier

That my mother had made for me

For my birthday,

So I dropped the gold flakes in there.

When you stand and sluice 

And sieve for gold in a cold clear creek 

On a sunny day, with no shirt on,
And eat your cupcake out there,

That your mother has made for your birthday,

The day is its own great reward,

And you've been paid

In full by the Day, and thoughts of gold

Fade away into the crumbs

And the sand that flows by

From your sieve down the mountainside 
By way of the great and rushing waters.

-jenn