D.W. Rodgers Poet Free verse

Tahawus - a Short Poem With a Very Long Footnote

A polite rain
joined me briefly
before heading uptrail
to leave me standing, alone,
in a suddenly steaming forest.


I wrote this on a hike in the Adriondacks to  to Mt Marcy, the highest mountain in New York State. My Adirondack  Guide indicated that Tahawus was the a first Nation (Iroquois ??) name for the mountain and it  meant “cloud-splitter.”   I decried that the mountain is now named "Mt. Marcy"after William L. Marcy, who as Governor of New York (1833-1839), authorized the geological survey that explored the area. I  speculated that this is why there is so little poetry in our time.

However, a later Wikipedia search revealed that the name was likely never used by the aboriginal peoples of the area to refer to the mountain, and its meaning, may have no roots in any language. 

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Dr.Ram Mehta March 20, 2014 at 5:22 AM Well penned write and congratulations on the fine win, roger D.W. Rodgers March 20, 2014 at 8:58 AM Dr, Mehta, Thanks

Anne-Lise Andresen March 20, 2014 at 4:14 AM - Congratulations on your win in the contest sponsored by Giorgio A.V. - A wonderful win poem from you Roger ! - oxox // Anne-Lise :) D.W. Rodgers March 20, 2014 at 8:58 AM Anne Lise, Thanks

Skat A March 20, 2014 at 1:08 AM Roger, Congrats, awesome win! ~SKAT~ D.W. Rodgers March 20, 2014 at 8:57 AM SKAT, Thanks

Poet Destroyer A March 19, 2014 at 11:03 PM Roger, Impressive like the themes. Congratulations on your win. :) Love ~LINDA D.W. Rodgers March 20, 2014 at 8:56 AM Linda, Thank you and glad you liked my themes. I'm presently lost in The Orenda which brings me back to my association and more importantly disassociation with our First Nations.