Best Mount Poems
Where forests stretched for miles, and Spirit Lake
lay at its foot, there stood a rebel peak.
One day the earth beneath began to quake.
What havoc Mother Nature was to wreak!
The tremors kept occurring till the day
two craters which had formed began to merge,
erupting ash. Wise folks left right away,
for that volcano soon would surely surge!
Some met their death that eerie Sunday morn
of May eighteenth. The deer began to flee.
Then from the mount, a burst of cloud was born -
a mushroom cloud which bellowed boisterously.
It grumbled and it rumbled, rocketing
for fourteen miles to sky its ice and ash.
Land slid. An avalanche was covering
all things within the path of its mad dash!
By 10:15, a wall of water rushed
down to the river, tearing up the trees
along with boulders as the ash still gushed.
Destruction had been wrought with greatest ease.
The news said Mount St. Helen’s lost her head,
and trees, like matchsticks, lay upon the ground.
Amazingly, despite such loss and dread,
there is new growth of beauty all around!
Written Aug. 13, 2014 for Wordscapes Contest of John Hamilton
Burping sulfurous fumes
its fiery belly heaves
and gas and ash erupt
knocking me to my knees.
Beneath the pumice beats
a throbbing heart of heat,
and I can feel its pulse
surging below my feet.
Treading on crackling skin
I weigh each step I take
or risk Icarus’s fate
and pay for my mistake.
I approach carefully
knowing that I could die
for beneath its chard brow
I spy the monster’s eye.
Mount Etna's dragon stirs
my imagination
as molten rock boils in
caldron of creation.
(Quatrain)
11/19/2015
I have seen you flash by
Amidst thick green foliage and swaying pines
Like a distant silver dream
On receding skyline
But was never satisfied
For a close encounter I craved
I did then go up
The Space Needle in Seattle
Hoping to have a clear view
Of your snow-clad balding pate
That thought profound thoughts
Against mortal blues of the empty sky
But, alas, you remained
Elusive to sight
Hiding behind shifting clouds
Yesterday, I drove over a hundred miles
Climbed my way to Sunrise Point
Hoping for a close tete-a-tete
You played truant again
I saw a blank
Of nothingness, void
A grey screen of clouds and mist
As snow-flakes flew around
The board before me read
You were somewhere there
Amidst mighty peaks
Right before my unseeing eyes
Doesn't matter Rainier
You are there, I know for sure
Like the Himalayan peaks
I haven't seen
And yet am charmed by their beauty
On calendars, picture-cards
Inherent philosophy
Their height and grandeur speak
Better luck next time
Rainier, you are a teacher
I have now seen
Lofty nothingness, void
Against which I have all the peaks
Of the world that speak
Of Truth that belongs not to things
But to an evanescent dream
That the Lord, whoever He is
Conjures up for stupid minds
Please don’t crowd about
While I shout about
To be loud about
What I’m proud about
When you see me go
In my tuxedo
To my gazebo
Atop Mt Ego
You aren’t permitted
Just I’m admitted
Since I’m best fitted
And most committed
To begin my quest
Because I am blessed
Having passed the test
To ascend the crest
So please stand behind
And form a nice line
The views are all fine
Of all that is mine
And that may sound bold
Or so I am told
Until you behold
Me adorned in gold
When I’ve completed
I will be greeted
And then be seated
Beside the conceited
And since I’m unique
I’ll get what I seek
When I reach the peak
Of Mt Ego this week
I looked up at the mountain,
the result - I was in awe!
George, Teddy, Tom, and Abe,
were the faces, that I saw!
Faces carved in granite.
Fourteen years, to get it done!
Over 400 people did the stonework,
completed - October 1941!
Why these four were chosen,
may have been a mystery?
It's because they represent,
the first 130 years, of Americas history!
George, was Father of our Country.
Democracy was his quest!
He attained freedom from Great Britain,
and his history tells the rest!
Thomas, was president number three.
His most important deed, of note,
was the Declaration of Independence,
a document, which he wrote.
Abe, held our nation together,
during the Civil War!
He was able to preserve the union,
hence, he's one of the chosen four!
Teddy, was an advocate of many great causes!
Panama Canal trust buster, and rights of the common man!
He led us into the 20th century,
and helped foster Americas, economic plan!
An iconic symbol of Presidential greatness,
high in Dakotas Black Hills!
If you're any kind of a history buff,
it'll be one of your greatest thrills!
This beautiful National Memorial,
is Mount Rushmore, South Dakota!
When you see these four granite faces,
you won't regret, one iota!
Note:
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Keystone, South Dakota
George Washington 1732-1799
Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826
Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865
Theodore Roosevelt 1858-1919
Just like mushroom clouds
Massive plumes of hot ash are
Eruption Columns
http://www.thehighlanderspoems.com/nature-2.php
Only an inspired mortal such as I,
could feel the stimuli
synonymously woven in unison with the indigenous people,
who for centuries have inhabited this place.
The ‘Aotearoa Northland Maori’
Relating their verbal legends of old
complementing one’s majestic stance
here in the wilderness, a place where
the ancient Gods of Olympus would feel at home.
Here! I also stand in awe of you ‘Manaia’ guardian of the bay,
you with your shadowy creation which intimidates the serene waters
of the Pacific Ocean, lying dormant below.
Mortified crag laden face appearing to cry out
for assistance to the wayward breeze,
that it may hasten the removal of the ghostly grey veil,
compounded precariously within your stony crown, only then,
permitting the radiance of the brand new day to
cast out the lingering nocturnal shadows,
exposing all that surrounds your
‘Monolithic presence’
© Harry J Horsman 2010
He spoke of the poor in spirit standing there on the mountain side
Over 15,000 people would hear it this very simple spiritual guide
About all those who mourn and the comfort that they shall find
As the eight Beatitudes were born as Jesus so beautifully defined
Jesus would go on to speak of many that are downcast in society
As He spoke of the meek and their great inheritance they shall see
And the thirst and hunger for righteousness how they will be filled
Oh how the good Lord does bless all those who do what He willed
And the merciful He also spoke of and how they too shall see mercy
As Jesus conveyed that it would be love that would set every soul free
In then speaking of the pure in heart for God Himself they shall see
Being such a great place to start at least it was for many just like me
Even the peacemakers He did not forget for they are all God's children
Finally those, whom others will beset, as now all eight are contained within
Oh to be there on that day looking at Jesus as He spoke from above
In the revealing of His Way He imposed with His Fathers great love
Dedicated to Aunt Patsy and Sister Claire
I conquered the
Mt. Everest ofdistrust and
pain that kept anchored me down like a sunken ship in the Atlantic
your verbal abuse kept me off the radar
as I hid away my shame
my dismay was my watery grave
My lonesome journey was onerous
My arms and legs began to shake
I had to let go of my heavy baggage.
The weight of hate, and bitterness was unfathomable
When I released it, I was freed from the shackles of my past mistakes
Thirsty for nurishment...I took a gulp of compassion
I discovered that Love will take you the rest of the way
my tears washed the resin of my sorrow away
I laid out on the peak
and watched as the stars nestled themselves within the goose down comforter clouds
and the mist intermingled between my fingertips
That was the moment of truth
Where the world stood still.....I looked upon it like a shepherd watching over her flock
realzing how lucky I am to recieve this opportunity for change
Insight.. these are the moments are rare, and a blessed gift
That's when it's just you and the world
and the recognition of your destiny
I have a purpose to spread my love, patience,and non-judgmental characteristics
You can conquer your internal demons
whose firey tongues slither into your ear canals
spreading their lies
fraudulent and self loathing
clawing their way through your psyche and haunting your memories
keeping you locked up tigher than Alcatraz
We all must traverse through our own Mt. Everest's
I wish you well and a safe passage
But when you reach the top.
Plant your flag
In remembrance of the day you took a leap of faith and were brave
He knew the time was nearing
When he would have to depart
So he preached his last sermon
In open space, atop an Olive Mount
He fed those present one simple meal
Made sure that they had had enough
Softly, blew the wind through the silence
Then his voice echoed throughout the valley below
For the many gathered there to hear
He knew there would be lean times
Bitter times of war and peace
The many times spirit and flesh would clash
For he had been into the future
And knew of these battles to come
And like a loving Father
Anticipating his absence from his children
Gently, he admonished them to keep the faith
Praying that each one would grasp
These way to live in the spirit
Potent ways to reach God's Kingdom
~*~
"Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven"...
* To read the rest of the 8 Beatitudes and sermon see Matt: 5: 3 - 7 (KJV)
Mount Fuji
white-capped monolith
silent, silver sentinel...
a sleeping beauty
Form - Haikuette
05-31-2014
Contest: Three Lines are Fine
Sponsor: Debbie Guzzi
Placement: 2nd
Beautiful mountain
Japan is in my backyard
Tacoma Fuji
Orange streaks highlight an eastern Sicilian sky
a fiery display putting added pressure
on an already muddled and ashen mind
seeing the unseen still fearing the fairest dream
Slight breezes push a scent of despair to the front
fading slow where the swirls of yesterday still comfort me
but I worry that you can only see with barren eyes
under a paper umbrella giving broken perceptions
Mount Etna don't you cry out loud for me tonight
hold back your molten seas as life gives way
to thoughts lost on a quick spin through the storm
where hearts sway with anticipation of her
Futures lie deep in the painted heat of the night
even now, eased, knowing you're finally alright
Pompeii at the top of the stairs,
Her negligee glowing like the moonlight.
The trancelike eclipse chases her to bed.
The milky softness of her gown —
birds like stars stun him to moans.
The thickness of her hair haloes the pillow
A mirror reflects his volcanic shadow.
The universe — the subtle kisses
the eruption of Vesuvius.
Seems forever at rest, in each other’s arms.
11/27/2018
Only inspired mortals can feel the stimuli
synonymously woven within the indigenous people
who for centuries dwell in this place.
The ‘Aotearoa Northland Maori’
Relating verbal legends of old
complementing one’s majestic stance
in the wilderness, a place
the ancient Gods of Olympus would welcome as home.
Here! From where one stands a perception
one of understanding yet in awe of you.
‘Manaia’
Guardian of ‘Taurikura bay’
With your phantom shroud intimidating
the serene waters of the Pacific Ocean lying dormant below.
Mortified your crag laden face appearing to cry out
for assistance to the wayward breeze,
that it may hasten the removal of the ghostly grey veil,
compounded precariously within your stony crown,
only then licence to permit the radiance of the brand new day to
cast out the lingering nocturnal shadows,
exposing all that surrounds your
‘Monolithic presence’
© Harry J Horsman 2016