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Joyce Johnson

Member Rara Avis

since 2001-03-10

Posts 9912
Washington State

0 posted 2001-05-28 10:43 PM

Mount Baker is seen from my window,
Framed there in his garment of snow.
Towering over his neighbors, and
Admired from the valley below.
His beauty cannot be disputed;
The poets and artists concur.
So his volatile sister grows jealous.
He is taking attention from her.

So proud of the fact she is taller,
Than all of her brothers save one.
Resenting Rainier for his stature,
He's too near her adored god, the sun.
Mount Hood, Mount Adams, and others,
That make up the great Cascades Range,
Have at one time or another, ignored her.
She vows this contempt will soon change.

Mount St. Helens could pent it no longer;
Her deep seated, smoldering rage.
She vents it all early one morning,
The anger she's held for an age.
The havoc she's wrought is tremendous.
She feels no regret and no shame.
She is striking a blow for all sisterhood.
The world will remember her name.

She sacrifices some of her beauty,
Which the centuries of time will reclaim.
Her brothers now bow to her fury.
She's admired for her ill gotten fame.
These mountains are slumbering giants.
Their power is yet to be seen.
They're holding their strength in abeyance;
Giving Helens her reign as the queen.

We love them, unheeding the danger.
We daringly dwell at their feet;
Knowing full well, we are under the spell,
Of idols with dues swift and steep.
St. Helens has sounded a warning,
With some of us paying a price.
We need be aware of the might hiding there,
Encased in that beautiful ice.

By Joyce 9/25/2000

Trillium

Member Patricius

since 2001-03-09

Posts 12098
Idaho, USA

1 posted 2001-05-29 01:06 AM

Joyce: This is magnificent!! I loved every line of it. Nice to see you here tonight.

Betty Lou Hebert

Red_Feather
Member

since 2001-01-19

Posts 131
The Vagabond Sea

2 posted 2001-05-29 10:01 PM

I was one a subject myself, and they are grand indeed. This brought me good thoughts, thanks.

One's not half two it's two are halves of one EE Cummings

Romy
Senior Member

since 2000-05-28

Posts 1170
Plantation, Florida

3 posted 2001-05-29 10:11 PM

Joyce,
Great poem! I used to live in front of Mt. Rainier years ago, (admiring it from my window not realizing at the time that it was a volcano!)
I like your use of metaphor...mountains as slumbering giants!
Nice job!

Irish Rose
Member Patricius

since 2000-04-06

Posts 10263

4 posted 2001-05-30 09:37 PM

what effective images you portrayed.

Kathleen Blake

"When red-haired girls scamper like roses over the rain-green grass,
and the sun drips honey."
Laurie Lee

Joyce Johnson

Member Rara Avis

since 2001-03-10

Posts 9912
Washington State

5 posted 2001-05-30 10:23 PM

Thanks everyone for reading and commenting. I love these mountains but they are an ever present danger. Joyce

Denise

Moderator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-08-22

Posts 22648

6 posted 2001-05-31 08:23 PM

Fantastic poem, Joyce! Very well written!

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