A poem for California's incomparable White Mtns


written at Grandview campground, elev 8300 feet (approx)



big pine rhapsody #1

O grand view!
We dust, we dry day, we chant the clouds away
we heat salt valley, ice & palisade
we bract & blossom, petal open
we sap & splendor bristlecone seedlings
we shake the pine, we needleshine..

O grand view!
We climb, we cling & faultline old gold mine
we slag & slate tectonic plate
we slope & scale the rock, the rusted rails,
we vein the quartz caves, we cascade..

O grand view!
We track, we black jackrabbit run
we mouse-jump the nuthatches'
nightwatch, we muledeer-notch the trail
we raven soar, we quail
we coyote wail this big pine tune..

O grand view!
We loom, we east sink into deep soda spring
we sing the pronghorn pinyon moon
we shadow long, we shoshone song
we juniper skies, we jupiter rise..

O grand view!
We pulse, we radiate, we comet contemplate
we spin & spark in darkness, arc the night
we split the summit white snow bright
we shoot the starry dolomite..

O grand view, we soul ignite!



copyright©1999 Robt O'Sullivan Schleith



Some White Mtn photos.



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