Such peace — wandering these mountains
exploring the shores of its lakes and rivers
spellbound by the immensity of its forests
praying it will endure the human species
its ancient secrets whisper on the winds
echoing in the treetops like quiet song
to resonate forever my beating heart
lost to the magic of this mystic realm
this wilding world of enchantments
this vast pacific northwest kingdom
I’m entranced by these majestic mountains
whose crisp whitewaters serenade my soul
cascading the boulders in its wild rivers
‘round each bend stirs a freshened zephyr
wafting through the timeless old growth
an osprey’s cry echoes high in the canopy
beautifully eerie this raptor’s haunting call
it seeks prey in the waters of these mountains
I have great respect for this masterful fisher
doing battle with a wild trout is in its nature
I need my wits and rod to fish these rivers
in pursuit of the elusive native rainbow
but such joyful endeavor is addictive
imagination ignites
a’wade in these streams
lost in sweetest dreams
soothed by the breeze
free from the stress
of this mad world
I decompress
the rustle in the tall trees is an intoxicating melody
this special place lives always deep in my heart
I am captive to the mysteries of these forests
enchanted by these wondrous mountains
my soul adrift on the glacial-fed waters
when I have passed ~ here I will rest
you’ll hear my voice on the wind
my footsteps in the old growth
my whispering on the waters
it’s my prayer for the earth
come quietly – and listen
*
rob kistner © 2021
Poetry at: d’Verse
Poetry at: Earthweal
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** READ THIS poem I read today “Live” on OLN: Eternal River
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Magnificent response to the challenge, Rob. The lines breathe with quiet enchantment.
Thank you Brendan! I was very inspired by your post, so I am pleased this resonated for you… 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous, I am listening one of your finest. Bravo
Thank you True, I appreciate your generous words.
Beautiful and enchanted poetry, Rob!
‘praying it will endure the human species’ – it is frightening and sobering that we now have to consider such prayers.
Thank you Ingrid, and it is very sad indeed!
Yes, one of your finest. There is much beauty and wonder in the Pacific northwest.
Thank you so very much Sherry. This was such a pleasure to write… 🙂
You have woven your enchanted forest and given it to us as a beautiful gift.
I am so pleased you received ig as such Kerfe! 🙂
You amaze me with the myriad of ways you poetically salute the Great Northwest. You are like the spokesperson for the wilderness. I have thought, and felt, all the things you have written about. I will be cremated, and my family will spread my ashes somewhere in the Cascades.
I like the wilderness brother! You meet far fewer people, and the ones you do meet are usually damned cool!
Yes nature does whisper to us. Nice one Rob
Much????love
Thank you Gillena — much love to you my friend? 🙂
Rob, this is a different poem than the one you read at the live event, but to me the two go hand in hand. Wonderful to see and hear you tonight. Now that I have a different phone and internet connection you might see me more often at the live reads.
Nice seeing you Lisa. Yes I read my piece “Eternal River”. But I wanted to edpose people to “Listen”. I put the direct link to “Eternal River” at top of “Listen”.
This si outstanding work, RK; I don’t know how I missed it earlier.
I esp liked the close: voice/ footsteps/ whisper/ prayer and the invittion to listen. Bravo.
And the piece you shared on tonight’s OLN Live was extremely moving, Thanks for sharing; I know it isn’t always easy.
Peace, Brother.
Thank you Ron. I am always honored when you like one of my pieces. I liked your reading tonight as well my friend.
Love this especially; “an osprey’s cry echoes high in the canopy beautifully eerie this raptor’s haunting call it seeks prey in the waters of these mountains.” 🙂
Thank you Sanaa! Even a raptor has to eat… 🙂
I love that we share the Pacific Northwest … beautifully penned, worthy of many sighs.
There are several of us. You, Glenn, and I for certain. But I picked up on at least two others. One in Oregon, and someone in Vancouver BC I believe. May be more?
This is absolutely beautiful. I am there in the serenity of the Pacific Northwest with you through your words. Adding the osprey and its fishing in comparison to the paraphanalia you (the human) take to do the same task….is another comparison between the simplicity of nature and the trappings of human kind.
Thank you for reading at LIVE — your tribute to your son was so very moving. No matter the time passed, the loss of a child is an unimaginable hurt. But yes…there is joy in so many of the memories as well. There is no closure…but there is a gentleness that wafts in over time.
There will never be closure Lillian. It will never be OK! There are moments of tears, moments of anger — they can both be set off by the strangest Things. A song, a program on TV, something I glimpse online or in a magazine, some thing one of my other children or my grandson says or does, the dates of Aaron’s birthday or the date if his death — happens completely unexpected, like it just happened. My having been adopted, and he my first son — many things can set me off. But, their are incredible wonderful memories, smiles or laughter when we talk about him — great memories! But dvdn after the laughter, there is the sting if his being gone, forever.
This is really beautiful and poignant, a very fine tribute. The loss of a child would be an event for which I would never find closure. I don’t think one should be expected to. Wishing you peace and as many good memories as is possible.
Thank you O!
You conjure it all so beautifully! I share your prayer.
Thank you Rosemary!
Such a beautiful tribute and prayer for the earth, Rob.
And it was wonderful–and sad, moving, poignant–to hear you read at OLN.
(Sorry for the delay–I thought I had commented already.)
Thank you Merril! 🙂
You have such a lovely gift for describing the northwest and its magnificence, Rob, and the ability to take us along with you. Blessings on you!BevBe
Thank you Bev! I found my heart and soul when I moved to Oregon… 🙂 — — My heart breaks though, becauss thugs are coming into Portland, one of the most laid back, beautiful, safe cities I ever knew for the 25 years Kath snd I lived near — now in the 5 years since we moved up to Seattle, thugs (calling themselves anarchist) have come into the city of Portland, and are destroying and terrorizing it. The world is getting so fucked up! It hurts my already failing heart… 😐
I enjoyed the content of this but I also like the way that the poem is shaped on the page.
Thank you Graham! 🙂
I enjoyed reading your beautiful words. I also like the layout of the lines and stanzas: they seem to get narrower throughout each stanza, as if focusing more closely on what matters — and what matters is that beauty and peace. That’s what your poem made me think of.
Thank you Jenna, I am pleased this resonated for you!:)