Photo: David Slotto
Photo: David Slotto–Mt. Whitney, Eastern Sierra, California
gaia convulses
gives birth to massive mountains
strength is born in pain
Linked to Jennifer Nichole Wells prompt: Color My World Purple Mountains Majesty
Image via Wikipedia
Driving North on I-395 in Early Morning
Behind me, to the East,
(as I crest a summit)
sun opens his eyes,
stretches, reaches out,
grazes snow-graced peaks
of Mt. Whitney,
gilds her breasts in bronze.
Before me, in the valley,
fog spills into a bowl of milk.
I inch forward,
into a cloud of unknowing.
Earth shimmers behind
her gauzy silence,
till once again
she rips her veil
and wraps me in light.
Going home.
Joined to Gooseberry Garden where we’re invited to write about something for which we are grateful and to dVerse Poets’ Pub Open Link Night where you can write about whatever you want. For those of us who celebrate Thanksgiving, here’s a chance to gorge on poetry and friendship before the big day. Maybe then we won’t be so tempted to over-indulge when the day arrives. Happy Thanksgiving all, wherever you are. I am grateful you are a part of my life.
Submitted to LadyNimue’s Months of the Year Challenge:
http://ladynimue.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/challenge1-months-of-the-year-challenge
Last year in January (as we do yearly) we braved the snow to travel down I-395 in an effort to escape the cold and enjoy the warmth of Palm Desert. The highway snakes along the eastern Sierra. The view of Mt. Whitney from Lone Pine is particularly stunning. This is an etheree describing that experience.
I-395 South of Reno
to Lone Pine
An Etheree
Lone
Pine sits
nestled in
McKinley’s breast,
waits for passersby
to linger in her shade.
Sierra Mountain flowers
boast of vivid hues amidst the
craggy heights and verdant valley green.
Just to the north the camp of Manzanar
speaks of troubled times and war-torn worlds.
We hesitate then drive on past,
stop for a break, admire the
snow-capped peaks, gas up then
leave before the sun
withdraws its light
and leaves us
in the
dark.
The etheree form is based on the syllable/line structure: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1
Victoria C. Slotto, Author 