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I Stand Alone On a Hillside Barren

I stand alone on a hillside barren Of trees and rocks, and similar thing, Once they were lush with foliage green But now they are stripped of everything. Ancient mountains verdant ripped away The price of greed more than evident, By harvesting narrow top seams of coal Crushing heavy equipment came and went. West Virginia’s hills were once majestic Grand and proud they towered brave, Where I stand alone on a hillside barren Saddened like standing before a grave. Coal barons who built a mansion near Must feel the pangs of injustice here. FIRST PLACE WINNER Brian Strand's Sonnet Contest July 21, 2021 SILVER MEDAL WINNER "Where Have All The Mountains Gone" Poetry Contest All Poetry - October 10, 2021

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Christuraj Alex

Date: 7/31/2021 4:53:00 AM

Coal barons who built a mansion near Must feel the pangs of injustice here. Beautifully written. Congratulations on your win!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/31/2021 7:30:00 AM

Your thoughts are always so appreciated, Christuraj. Thank you.

Tony Hargreaves

Date: 7/19/2021 2:55:00 PM

Enjoyed your poem and can relate to the damage of coal mining that turned green hills into black spoil heaps. Like the blank verse within sonnet format and a great rhyming couplet to conclude.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/19/2021 5:58:00 PM

Barbara seemed to think it is free verse, but it does rhymes, now that I reread it. Blank verse is in iambic pentameter and does not rhyme. So, I guess it really is a sonnet. What do you think? I really didn't know how to classify it. I just wrote it!

Nancy Kaufman

Date: 7/16/2021 11:05:00 AM

it's tragic what they do when they strip the mountains like that, so unsightly and the poor families are never financially compensated for their loss, pure greed

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/16/2021 12:41:00 PM

So true, Nancy. The coal barons are rich and most of the folks in the mining towns are dirt poor. Sad! But, worse, what they do to the mountains.

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 7/16/2021 7:22:00 AM

I was listening to news of coal mining yesterday; so this is apt timing!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/16/2021 8:22:00 AM

Yes, I think it is, but this rape of the mountains has been going on for many years.

Barbara Peckham

Date: 7/15/2021 2:58:00 PM

This is poignant and, sadly, true. The poem is in free verse, very well comprised. It is also powerful. Thank you. +

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/15/2021 4:17:00 PM

You are so right, Barbara. I mislabeled it. It is free verse, but possibly Blank Verse, as I originally envisioned it. I'll change it, and thanks! It is in iambic pentameter and unrhymed. Me thinks it's primarily Blank Verse. Oh, well.....

Terry Flood

Date: 7/15/2021 11:57:00 AM

The season of Mad Max cometh. Where the powers that be won’t act, the people are going to have to. It will be illegal, it will be vicious, it will be an underground movement and it will be in our lifetime. I see it coming. In the meantime, I can only say, ‘Great poem, Milt.’ Terry

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/15/2021 12:00:00 PM

Thank you so much, Terry, for your insightful comment. None too soon in this regard, I think.

Tom Cunningham

Date: 7/15/2021 10:57:00 AM

Sadly a sight thats all too common these days Milton, I think companies should restore the landscape to how it was and penalise those that don't. Tom

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/15/2021 10:59:00 AM

Indeed, and I must admit that some reclamation has been made, but not nearly enough. It is very depressing to drive through the beautiful hills and see some of them stripped away. Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Tom.