I walk out my door
and look straight across at mountains
jutting behind the houses over the road.
Really, they loom
on the other side of our town, and beyond
paddocks and canefields, trees and river.
But this hill I’m on,
up the top here, takes my sight leaping
past the valley to the craggy range
(the Border Ranges)
filling the width of my vision, which rises
to encompass also the height of the sky.
‘The bright of the sky’
my hand types, and I nearly keep that.
At present it’s clear, cold winter-bright.
The mountain edge
is sharp, as if carved with a knife.
Below is a row of trees topping the hill.
Somewhere else
the globe is warming, ice caps melt,
the ocean is filling with plastic.
Some other time,
not now, the rivers fill too full
drowning the land; or forests burn.
For a moment I forget
the horrors of wars, starvation, pestilence.
They will return too soon. Meanwhile
I open my door.
I gaze at the mountains opposite, deepest blue.
(I dribble a little, being old. It doesn’t matter.)
Written for Poetics: A View of One's Own, at dVerse.
‘The bright of the sky’ / my hand types, and I nearly keep that. - you really are the master of the conversational tone, the way it smoothly slides into your poems. And that last line - who would have expected that close. Oh wonderful writing!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rajani. It's very nice indeed to have it recognised and appreciated.
DeleteAlways the poet's choice of which part of reality to write from. Nature is usually my healer, as well.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, one of the best healers!
DeleteA jaw-dropping view you describe for us, Rosemary, one that circles back to an open door that invites beauty to overtake us, stay with us, to show us what transcends time, the events of the day, even the place itself, a reassuring steadfastness. All beautifully conveyed through your words, through your eyes.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I love that you picked up on and articulated 'a reassuring steadfastness.'
DeleteThe poem grew beautifully. Nice description, and really fits the theme. The photo was nice but the words gave me a great image! -Ain
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ain, that's very nice to know.
DeleteI live in one of the flattest regions in the UK, Rosemary, and I would love to see your view. I was taken by the hill ‘leaping past the valley to the craggy range’ and the mountain edge ‘sharp, as if carved with a knife’. And then the reminder that ‘somewhere else the globe is warming, ice caps melt, the ocean is filling with plastic’ and of ‘the horrors of wars, starvation, pestilence’ reminded me how fortunate I am.
ReplyDeleteThe 'somewhere else' may be temporary – yet it is true that some of us are inordinately lucky compared with others. It's fitting that we take time to appreciate it.
DeleteThis is such a rich poem, born from the walk. It sounds healing to forget everything bad (which I feel as well)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bjorn. Lovely to participate here again.
DeleteThis is exquisitely drawn! I especially admire; "The mountain edge is sharp, as if carved with a knife. Below is a row of trees topping the hill." 🩷🩷
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sanaa. It 's a view I never tire of.
DeleteIt is your voice narrative that really draws the reader in close to look at the views and sense the feelings. Loved this Rosemary
ReplyDeleteOh, that's a lovely thing to be told; thank you, Laura.
DeleteIn the Red Book, Jung distinguished the spirit of the time - what possesses so in our striving youth - with the spirit of the depths, whose tide and voice we hear so much more in our so called golden years. I sure come to love the vast background over the tattered present.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, Jung continues to be a gift to us all, doesn't he, with his wisdom? Thanks for remarking on this piece of wisdom; it does feel as if it fits.
DeleteThere is something about living in close proximity to mountains that reminds us of our place in the world, small and fleeting compared to their geological majesty but also reassuring as they will still be here even if we mess up the planet, temporarily. A great walk through immediate beauty and over the horizon troubles Rosemary...
ReplyDeleteThank you. And yes, you've summed it up perfectly.
DeleteI love to gaze at mountains. Soaking up their beauty does allow for a needed moment of respite, as you've so beautifully written here.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words. I'm glad to note that I'm by no means alone in this pleasure.
DeleteWhat loveliness to gaze at!
ReplyDeleteYes, such a blessing.
DeleteYou are so lucky to have that mountain for a view. You brought us there in your world. Thank you Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteI do feel very lucky!
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