From Crestline to The Lake Tahoe Basin
From Crestline to The Lake Tahoe Basin
I. Crestline
Born in coastal town
his mother wanted mountains
raised on crest of wind
near peak where pine trees flourished
squirrels skittered through his days.
Catacombs in back
dug by a boy with shovel
his dog at his side
small holes covered with plywood
where boy would hide from the world.
Memories of porch
quiet times to stand above
dried brown pine needles
raked into piles by a fence
detritus fuel for a fire.
Waiting for the bus
an impenetrable child
who barely noticed
other children calling names
to snicker and push and point.
A joy in learning
ideas to daydream about
children only hurt
everyday of his life
there is no pain in our dreams.
II. From Mountaintop to Mountaintop
These sturdy mountains
held him and his mother safe
from boulders of words
from violence of people
who seem to need to cause pain.
Concrete takes my eyes to feet
I shuffle from job to job
searching for a place
Mom I am quiet like you
as I search for a mountain.
Weekends I saunter
like Thoreau around his pond
water foliage
some things live and some things die
some things simply fade away.
Passage through these rocks
found at the foothills of life
a quick climb over
once again in Pinion Pine
on the mountains of my youth.
My dog at my side
as I traverse trails I’ve known
towards waterfalls
or cliff face with shale foot
boulders by a pond.
III. Lake Tahoe
Childhood in Crestline
pollution from the valley
creates ring of smog
hugs the mountain as we climb
harm ability to breath.
Drive to the valley
every Saturday for shots
to clear childhood lungs
to be free from pollution
is there a place we can breath?
Our carbon footprint
left imprinted on my chest
struggle to inhale
as we sat on mountaintops
then we found the Sierras.
The dream of John Muir
the beauty of our country
our nobility
a cliff face overlooking
deep miles of virgin valley.
Solemn legacy
our gift to struggling man
these vast grand canyons
miles and miles of mountain lake
from Crestline to Lake Tahoe.
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Oh, how I love Lake Tahoe. The beauty is breathtaking. Very nicely penned verses, Jamie.
Note on the phrases:
“somethings live and somethings die
somethings simply fade away.”
Might want to change to:
some things live and some things die
some things simply fade away.
see https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/119446/whats-the-difference-between-something-and-some-thing#:~:text=%22Some%20thing%22%20is%20much%20much,be%20something%20she%20would%20like.
Very well-written and descriptive, Jamie. I felt like I was there on the adventure.
Thank you Phyllis I made the appropriate changes. Thank you John. Jamie
One place I have never been is Lake Tahoe, but now after reading your wonderful work I feel like I just visited. Thank you for the stroll Jamie.
Thank you for the wonderful poetic tour of Lake Tahoe. Enjoyed.
Thank you Kurt and Rasma.