An Oddly Apt Comparison

The view from Poets’ Walk Park in the Hudson River Valley (Photograph by author) Several weeks ago, I traveled to the Hudson River Valley to share a day with my brother and his family. When I boarded the train in Manhattan, a sense of excitement washed over me. I desperately was longing for a change of scenery, if only for a day. (Not owning an automobile, all my travels rely on public transit or the kindness of a friend.) I’ve written and reflected upon the Hudson River Valley, its towns, its cultural history, and, of course, its natural beauty in the past. However, this occasion allowed me to experience sites and places beyond those sitting within easy walking distance from a train station or transit node. While driving along a wooded road, my brother suggested that we enjoy a modest hike through Poets’ Walk Park, a restorative open space originally landscaped in the 1850s. The park offered a scenic view of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains. As I quietly absorbed the…