L Milton Hankins Poet Sonnet

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 July 31, 2021 at 4:53 AM Coal barons who built a mansion near Must feel the pangs of injustice here. Beautifully written. Congratulations on your win! L Milton Hankins July 31, 2021 at 7:30 AM Your thoughts are always so appreciated, Christuraj. Thank you.

Tony Hargreaves July 19, 2021 at 2:55 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 July 19, 2021 at 5:58 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 July 16, 2021 at 11:05 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 July 16, 2021 at 12:41 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 July 16, 2021 at 7:22 AM I was listening to news of coal mining yesterday; so this is apt timing! L Milton Hankins July 16, 2021 at 8:22 AM Yes, I think it is, but this rape of the mountains has been going on for many years.

Barbara Peckham July 15, 2021 at 2:58 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 July 15, 2021 at 4:17 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 July 15, 2021 at 11:57 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 July 15, 2021 at 12:00 PM Thank you so much, Terry, for your insightful comment. None too soon in this regard, I think.

Tom Cunningham July 15, 2021 at 10:57 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 July 15, 2021 at 10:59 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.