Lonely Mountains

[Spear_Sister]

A hike I did around Ruapehu & Tongariro in New Zealand last weekend. Undecided on the title yet, a work in progress...

Lonely Mountains

Soft undulating hillsides beneath
Mossy forest canopies
Gnarled roots and fluorescent fungi sing
An earthy odour of natural decay
the annual Autumnal dropping of
Dead weight; a decomposing forest floor
Of Auburns, browns, greens…
Litter layer as camouflaged as I
Garbed in the Aiel’s neutral tones,
of Robert Jordan’s Three Fold Land

Boots crunch over slabs of
granite, sandstone, slate…
From a pinpoint to a boulder, obstacles
all navigated with a steadfast grit.
Digit tips numb beneath gloves, frozen
Noses exposed from balaclava’d faces
Joints and muscles creak and burn
Threatening to collapse

Severe inclines, severe descents
loose scree, and a sparsley dotted landscape
Perennial alpine grasses, growing amidst
Snow and foot-width goat tracks, carved
into the edge, into the precipice,
by a thousand feet that came before

Hair, gear and spirits dampened,
Immersed in the invasion of rolling clouds,
whilst wind whips and cuts
And on its back rides the suggestion of snow,
with frost gathered from neighbouring peaks
Eager to bestow and cover their lowly companions
In icy glory.
Candy floss clouds cast their shadow, and
Remnants of sunshine are glimpsed,
Lighting distant terrain, too far to grace
Our frozen bones

Cavernous valley depths, overshadowed
By a mountainous expanse
Rocky outcrops and lichened boulders
potentially hiding Orc, and Uruk-Hai
The wind bites, and in its wake lingers
the subtle smell of sulfur, triggering
Memories of Ruapehu’s last Extreme Expression
The cratered peak of Mount Doom, silhouetted,
looming ominously on the horizon

[Ona Sabela]

Absolutely gorgeous!
It's incredible to think of the awe-inspiring scenery found all over the world, and this is
a wonderful way to share some of it.

[CarolynKleefeld]

Skillfully composed with powerful descriptive imagery and masterful use of language-- much enjoyed.

[AoR]

It feels like a documentary-esque sensory piece. Where the wording is creating an image of vast nature and its challenges and beauty. Sounds like a grueling yet exhilarating experience! If I could just bring myself to be a sliver of courageous, I mean I literally am a scaredy cat - I've lived in the same city my whole life lol. Love the detail and the rawness of each image painted for the mind's eye to visualize!

[Rosella]

First time ever read this poem that has unique vocabulary build up stories of nature life, with details of extraordinary about mountains landscape. Beautifully composed.

[rupertpupkin]

Brilliantly captures your adventures. Well executed write. Well done on the spotlight.

[S(OU)LAR]

Making me wish I were able to fully appreciate this piece. I could just enjoy the flavor with my insufficient English ability.

[The ghost]

So descriptive so easy to visualize
I became so immersed in the building
Intensity.
The last two lines gave me chills.
Many bows