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| Mountain Sunrise, Catskill (1826) by Thomas Cole |
Mist rises off the pink
morning mountains
and here, alone, she stops
atop a ridge
to hug tall pines and
feel
their pull upward
in praise of clouds and air.
Owls leave the sky
to eagles now after
a night of hunt,
while she looks to
descend
into unknowns.
She pauses long
enough
to gulp water
and slowly stretch muscles
honed strong during
the climb, her lungs so
full
she yodels to
echos and puts new
words
in sentences
arising from her
heart
(or from mountain
spirits who brought her here)
strengthened and brave.
Others climb higher and
longer, others
grow wings and fly away,
others, though, don’t
quite try, so this is not
a fail, is it?
Stop that! She chides. This first
and then I’ll see
what’s next. She smiles and takes
the first step down
as if ascending to
as if ascending to
the promised land.
Written in anticipation of writing for two months at Pendle Hill where I learned to think of myself as having reached a mountain top from Jesse White's "Silencing the Critic" art and spirituality workshop.
artist and activist Mary Berner, whose birthday was January 19.
She died in 2003 at the age of 102.
He should have lived just as long.
Copyright © 2016 Susan L. Chast
I love it, especially "arising from her heart....strengthened and brave." She climbed as far as she could, that day, a very good start! Mine is wearier, and not as strong. Just posted it. A climb of another sort.
ReplyDeleteYodels to echoes... love that! Enjoyed this poem Susan!
ReplyDeletethe starting lines are so beautiful and full...so meaningful...loved this poem for its ending too....
ReplyDeleteOh Susan this is soo beautifully touching! Thank you so much for sharing this poem with us :D
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Sanaa
Back for another read now it's morning. I love that she is climbing, "strengthened and brave", and does not compare her height to what others have attained - for this is her climb, and her success. I love the hopefulness and excitement in "then I'll see what's next." It seems your back surgery has liberated you for the climb, my friend.
ReplyDeleteI'm always glad when the spirits (mountain or otherwise) bring me to special places.
ReplyDeleteThis is so so beautiful. I could see a glimpse of me in this girl :)
ReplyDelete"to hug tall pines and feel / their pull upward"...such love of life takes a soul to a higher life so that at the end of the day she could say, "This first / and then I’ll see / what’s next."..beautiful. ..
ReplyDeleteSusan, it seems like she is well prepared for the climb. With this optimistic attitude I believe she will climb high and when she gets to the top she will survey the world, feel invigorated, & the promised land will be at hand!
ReplyDeleteThe exhilaration if climbing a mountain is so typical of mankind constantly striving to achieve. I only wish more good and enjoyment would come from doing that rather than the greed and selfishness that is so rife today. At least we alone can climb the real mountains and be uplifted as we should.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this mountain poem. It's how I feel whenever I am blessed with something good for my future. taking deep breaths before climbing up or down into that "promised land." Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOne step at a time towards the journey ~ I inhale this along with you Susan ~ Hope you are well ~
ReplyDeletestrong during
ReplyDeletethe climb, h£er lungs so full
she yodels to
echos and puts new words
in sentences
arising from her heart"... Fascinatingand uplifting narrative Susan. Enjoyed reading your poem!
Ah yes, to be taken there by great Spirit, what better way to visit.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in to read mine Susan
Much love...
Step by step is the only way to climb the mountain of life - the imagery is divine..particularly the rising pink.. and putting 'new words in sentences arising from her heart' - sheer magic
ReplyDeleteBeautiful imagery and a strong spiritual element. As the others have said, slowly ,step by step is the way to go, enjoying the climb along the way. If you are blessed you can enjoy the same elation at any point on the climb the same as reaching the peak....I wish this for you !Mary Berner will be cheering you all along the way !Enjoy your retreat.
ReplyDeletemist personified...amazing dramatic..one moves as silently and mysteriously as the mist itself..the reader is taken on a journey...swiftly softly flying through with blessings and revelations...great poem
ReplyDeleteCole was an inspired artist and loved New York nature. Be inspired by the beauty and serenity. I love your poem as it speaks of new beginnings (there are always opportunities for those.)
ReplyDeleteBe blessed Susan!
Lovely! A lofty and grand write, Susan!
ReplyDelete