Get Your Premium Membership

Crater Lake - Sleeping Beast

Poet's Notes
(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like Gregory Richard Barden.


I round a bend in the trail ... And gasp, literally ... The scene before me takes my breath away And I stop, transfixed by the sheer breadth of the panorama The shimmering span of Crater Lake ... Clear, crystalline ... Pure as the tears of Heaven Translucent fathoms of water, waiting ... Glassy, tranquil, yet the depths shroud an inky secret A brumal dragon, ages old, slumbers in the blackened abyss Its fiery, flaming breath is calm, but its breast still slowly rises and falls The wings of thunder that once battered the air to ruin Are tucked close and quiet, but they tremble yet The snorting nostrils that choked the sky, and earth-tearing claws Are still and cold, but they shiver with an energy, relentless The molten rock that is its lifeblood, ever flows deep in its bowels Sleeping, dreaming, biding its time and virility Above, nature attends to its own The remnants of Mount Mazama paint the reach Crimped in white and green, the edges of snow-dusted foliage Creatures dance, unknowing, upon the beast's back Life goes on-and-on, in all its guises Struggle, tragedy, the feral judgements of existence and mortality Predator and prey, birth and growth, changing seasons The ceaseless spin of survival, continues on ... This exquisite glade and the providence that surrounds me Thrums with vitality, oblivious to the danger and heat stirring earthward Bloating in the gut of the burning basilisk ... far, far below Waiting for when the time is right ... And it once again ... scorches the sky. Written and submitted on January 15, 2019 For the "Sleeping Volcano" Poetry Contest Eve Roper, Judge & Sponsor.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2019




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 1/23/2019 7:59:00 PM
Wow Greg, your imagery in this piece is a visuL feast! Congratulations on your first place win! : )
Login to Reply
Date: 1/23/2019 3:37:00 PM
Greg, your creations are always breath taking. You have written what I was looking for. A poem with great imagery and feeling. Thank you so much for entering my contest. Congratulations on your win . Hugs Eve ~`*
Login to Reply

Book: Reflection on the Important Things