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| A lone wildflower at ten thousand feet |
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Suddenly a strange sight—all vegetation gone, people in the
fog. It was the sight I’d hoped for,
planned for. All the compass and map
navigating through the fog had not led me to some desolate place with no hope
of descending before nightfall. These
people rode up on the tram, and I would go down the same way. One of them took my picture. 
And once the tram slid below the clouds, I would soon be in Teton
Village. One
consolation—the tram ride is free if you walk to the top.
That surely is an extreme effort to get a free ride ... there you were, Sharon, a lone wildflower at 10,000 feet ... until the others appeared through the fog. (I'm glad you identified yourself, at first I thought the image was somebody in a spacesuit.)
ReplyDeleteReading of your saturated self, I feel like I am a Diva luxuriously drenched from my evening bath surrounded by scented candlelight in my warm cabin while the rain pours itself over this very thirsty mountain.
I do travel the heights with you as I read your blog ~ returning from that vicarious experience to the dreamlike comfort of my cozy cabin.
I am cheap, Junnie, didn't I tell you. A free ride and a senior pass to the national parks--it's the way I travel.
DeleteAfter seeing a lone wildflower
at ten thousand feet
I feel like a Diva
luxuriously drenched
from my evening bath
surrounded by scented candlelight
in my warm cabin while
rain pours itself over this very
thirsty mountain
how about formatting it this way?
Nice ~ wasn't thinking about format in my sharing, so glad the wildflower has a great editing eye
DeleteExhilarating. Vicarious. With my limited lung power I can't even fathom hiking at those altitudes. So enjoy reading about your experience. Mary
ReplyDeleteGood to see you here Mary. We'll do badminton at lower elevation and feel just as high.
DeleteHey Sharon,
ReplyDeleteIn the first picture, the tram looks like an awkward trinket dangling from a charm bracelet. Then, when viewed in perspective, a transportation trolley to navigate the landscape with others. This is the real thing on top of the mountain, so much better than an E ride at Disneyland, and free even!. One lone wildflower, is like hope, lifting her head. Thank you Sharon, for bringing us on the experience. Wow!
Yes Kathy, it was spooky, that ghost-tram appearing out of the fog, floating up toward me. Once on the tram, I was down in ten minutes, after hiking most of the day to gain the same elevation. One lone wildflower--I feel like I am her quite often.
Deletepressed wildflower
ReplyDeletethrough cloudy glass
her true colors
through the locket of life
dangling off the world's edge
(for Sharon, through mountain clouds)
O yes, Kathabela, we do dangle, don't we. The locket of life suspended from a thin cable, descending from the edge of the world down, down into thick fog, the pressed wildflower (that's me) true colors showing. I like it, and hope to use it somewhere, if it's ok.
DeleteMOUNTAIN CLIMBING SONNET
ReplyDeleteGo feel high mountains in your pumping blood,
they'll supply that iron will climbers need,
let them sweep in upon you like life's flood
and then with hope upon their wonders feed.
Ascend old trails until they test your strength,
until you feel the price of winning peaks,
climb over rocks, get scraped, until at length
they'll single you out, to your spirit speak.
Climb up, then up until wet sweat will run,
then as you rest know just of going on,
for there upon a ledge beneath bright sun
your heart will find a new and fresher dawn.
The strength of mountains will rise up to you
and number you among a chosen few.
Lee Collins.
It's cool that there's a free ride down for climbers.
Nice sonnet, Lee. I feel like singing "I am a happy wanderer. My knapsack on my back." I may wist to use it, with credit, somewhere if that's ok.
DeleteLee seems to have channeled the flavor of Kipling ~ Good One Lee!
Deletethis lone wildflower
ReplyDeleteat ten thousand feet ..
do I live among the clouds
or return to earth
like any ordinary mortal?
Nice tanka, Mandy. I often use poems that people post here, either in a talk&picture show or on the blog. May I use this one? I like the idea of the wild flower's wonderment - to return or not to return.
DeleteSure you may, Sharon. :)
DeleteWow, my favorite combination of colors at 10,000 feet! The nature is amazing and you are, too.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you here, Keiko.
ReplyDeleteGreat pleasure to be around poets. Muhsin
ReplyDeleteYes it is, you come too. Write your thoughts in lines and spaces, Muhsin
DeleteThank you for your encouragement. I have yet to start from ground zero. But reading your blog did inspired me to write something from within. Muhsin
DeleteNo better place to start, Muhsin
Delete