13 Ways Of Looking At The Mountains Poem by Robert Charles Howard

<I>homage to Wallace Stevens<I/>

I - My Focus pistoned up the rise
      and all at once, the Rockies -
            silhouettes against the western skies.

II - On the road to Boulder
      a pleated ridge crawls north
            like a blue whale bound for the open sea.

III - The intoxicating verdure of Appalachia
      never fails to induce
            a certain mellowing of the spirit.

IV - You 'conquered' my North Face, did you,
      Why, I should freeze your arrogant ass
            like a holiday lamb culled for the sacrifice.

V- Lewis and Clark looked west
      stunned by the Bitterroots' frigid expanse.
            Farewell <I>Northwest Passage! </I>

VI - Pueblos stranded on Enchanted Mesa
      their rock stairs crumbled to the valley floor.
            Should they dive to their death or starve?

VII –<I>Touristas</I> at Big Bend Park
      wonder at its pastel window.
            it's romantic haze a toxic gift
      from stacks across the Rio Grande.

VIII – The humble old Ozark mountains
      dwarfed by the youthful Rockies.
            Listen up, youngsters, your time will come!

IX – We de-bussed to seize the dolomites
      with our hyper-kinetic shutters.
            I paused for a draught of Italian air,
      and felt the whack of an impish snowball.

X - Before Oregon's crater had its lake,
      the mountain scorched the village below.
            Today azure waters preach only serenity.

XI – Look east from Shissler peak
      to the golden meadow
            where the elk herd calmly grazes.

XII – Do mists veil the Blue Ridge Mountains
      or are there really no mountains at all -
            only clouds decked out in mountain attire?

XIII – It's said that peaks taller than Everest
      soar up from the ocean floor.
            So let's go scale the sunken heights!
      They say the water winds are fair today.

<I>May 28, 2010 – Boulder Colorado</I>