A Mountain's Challenge

majestic he seems, staring down at me with provocative, charcoal-cavern eyes challenging me to forge upward massive boulders, slippery streams and fallen trees arduous obstacles he puts before me shall I take his dare perhaps ascending a few steps closer to cerulean heaven reach out to touch the kaleidoscope rainbow an arc above this complex journey’s struggle or is communing with the universal consciousness beyond reach will I step, slip, stumble and fall if I climb, seeking to prove myself finding visions of self awareness as he urges me on only to wonder why I see nothing but myself in a shroud of misty gray loneliness at the peak far easier it would be to lay my head upon the verdant meadow’s grassy pillow content to admire him from afar rather than challenge myself to win his approval gratify my ambitious nature what satisfaction will come if I remain complacent in my life’s lackluster station never growing, never knowing what might have been if I’d listened to his provocative voice

Copyright © | Year Posted 2014



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Date: 12/26/2019 5:27:00 PM
Carolyn congrats on your top win!;)
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Date: 1/6/2019 9:29:00 PM
Carolyn, very nice free verse. I have thought about the mountain's challenge, but instead have been the one who lays "my head upon the verdant meadow's grassy pillow." :) Congrats on your win on mile 9 of my 2019 Poetry Marathon contest. By continuing to place in the contest you are accumulating points toward the final. ~Mark
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Date: 9/15/2014 3:57:00 PM
Cezanne loved the mountain as symbolic also. Good stuff, old friend. Congrats on the selection. Love, daver
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Date: 9/15/2014 5:33:00 AM
you have so much going on in the moment, and bring a lot of feeling with it,
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Date: 8/10/2014 12:16:00 AM
We make a choice to challenge ourselves or stay out of the race. Challenges always seem to reap rewards.
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Date: 8/9/2014 9:32:00 AM
Congratulations, Carolyn, on your great win. I enjoyed reading this wonderful piece of poetry. Great write! Pandita
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Date: 8/8/2014 11:25:00 PM
Congrats Carolyn, loved it.
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Date: 8/8/2014 8:35:00 PM
wow, this one is very deep, Carolyn. BIG congrats on your well deserved win.
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Date: 8/8/2014 5:11:00 PM
When I first commented on this beauty, I did not know it was entered in Charlotte's contest...Not surprised to see it on her list! Congratulations my friend and I hope you are feeling better - Tim
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Date: 8/8/2014 1:41:00 PM
The Mountain Temple knows your Station Carolyn, you must lecture your own Degree. In you is the champion's glee!" A few steps closer to cerulean heaven..." oh I love that texture and meaning. You have a sweet soul. J.A.B.
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Date: 8/7/2014 8:01:00 PM
This is, perhaps, my favorite of your writing, Carolyn. Wonderful imagery. Congratulations.
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Date: 8/7/2014 7:22:00 PM
This is wonderful Carolyn. But I hope you don't give in to his lure and go climbing those wild mountains. Great poem and win. Love, Joyce
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Date: 8/7/2014 6:41:00 AM
carolyn, this is one of the best poems I've read of yours; you've described life's struggles with such intricate imagery, and the poem contains some wonderful phrases such as "charcoal cavern eyes" - congrats on your win in my contest! :)
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Date: 8/7/2014 5:51:00 AM
Glad to see my fav write on winners list,,top7,, wish cud give more,, back again wid huge congrats !
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Date: 8/7/2014 5:25:00 AM
This work is written with such deep feelings and sincerity that it rubs off on the reader. Excellent is the least I can say! great imagery and choice of words, too. Your life's journey has not been easy, yet you never give up. God bless you. Congrats on your win...much deserved. // paul
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Date: 8/6/2014 5:11:00 PM
Wow! Carolyn, this is a wonderful poem with great imagery of life's struggles and how we can grow from them. True self is found within the climb. Very well written, I totally enjoyed it..... Robert.
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Date: 8/5/2014 7:49:00 PM
Your rainbows are within reach, Carolyn! You deserve cerulean sunrises! Jimbo
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Carolyn Devonshire
Date: 8/6/2014 3:09:00 PM
Yo, Jimbo. Reservations made!! Seeing two poet friends on one trip is going to be amazing. Hugs for you (in person!), Carolyn
Date: 8/4/2014 4:36:00 PM
Every line and every verse a true gem; Loaded with alliteration used to perfection topped off with a wonderful internal rhyme in the last verse...WOW---So what are we waitin on here? Grab your climbin shoes and let's go! - Tim
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Carolyn Devonshire
Date: 8/6/2014 3:12:00 PM
Jimbo and I should be trekking through some forests near Lake Superior in September. Don't have climbing shoes - I just stay close to the ground. There's an art to climbing. Thanks for your kind comments, Tim.
Date: 8/4/2014 3:56:00 PM
climbers always claim, to dare!, is because it is there,,,a little like poetry,, if one feels something needs to be said,,we write it down,,,,,here you have combined the two together,,, wonderful to read, so glad to have had the honour of reading you again, Carolyn especially as my time is very limited on soup now.....
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Carolyn Devonshire
Date: 8/6/2014 3:13:00 PM
Sweet Harry, how I've missed hearing from you. My time is limited by health problems, but I think of you often.
Date: 8/3/2014 7:18:00 PM
Don't be complacent my dear but you don't need to win his approval. Show him you are interested and fate will dictate the rest...beautiful piece....hugs Tim
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Date: 8/3/2014 6:18:00 PM
Take the leap my friend. When the landing goes well life is jubilant . When it goes bad we prosper from our mistake. Your very well written/inspiring poem says it so very much better.... Bravo!!!!
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Date: 8/3/2014 8:31:00 AM
I agree with these comments. Gosh, its good to have you back. BG
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Date: 8/3/2014 8:25:00 AM
Oh Carolyn this is real art my dear ! Lovely words, wonderful imagery,, poetry in great sense my friend ! Hv a blessed day !
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Date: 8/3/2014 1:47:00 AM
Oh my dear...You are a fantastic author, Carolyn. This is a true beauty. Oh...some people just see a mountain...You've given us personification's glory. The need to persevere, to taste a different reality is so expertly woven here. What choice of words: provocative, charcoal cavern eyes...Need I write more. I'm impressed. Going to my favs
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