The Mountain's Call

[VickySGV]

I refered to this "epic" poem that i began over 40 years ago in this post http://www.lauras-playground.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=61741&hl= that I made last month. Since then a couple of you have asked me to share it by PM, which I have done, and you have asked me to share it with the whole membership. This is a symbolic story of my life I offer it to yours --

The Mountain’s Call

Begun 1972 by R. Martin <ln> Completed 09/06/2011 by Vicky

I can even now recall the

day the mountain spoke to me.

Without a voice to which my ear

was tuned, still came the one word “come”.

Silently I hoisted my burden to my back

and placed my feet upon the path.

Ahead I looked and saw the

ramparts gray and sinister.

From off a snow-locked couloir

blew a wind as cold as forewarned death,

And the mighty chorus of Silence

and aloneness rang out a thunderous “Amen”.

No sooner though than dust first

rose from beneath my feet,

The stillness was shattered by a voice

soft and gentle-loud upon my dreams.

“Where go you my son? How

choose you this route of life?”

“I do not choose of my own, for to me

the mountain said ‘Come!’” I replied.

“So it always shall be” said the voice

as I turned to face its source.

Before me stood another such as I,

but one who started before I was.

He was bronzed and burned, dirty of

hand and immaculate of heart.

Gaunt and full, hungry,

but well fed by life.

As I looked deep within his eyes

I saw straight-forward to his heart.

A heart mighty and ongoing,

a tabernacle to a faith of child-like mien.

To me there was no doubt of

the burdens he had known and borne.

For each had left its mark

full upon his face.

Yet not at all could I divine a mark

of malice for those who had placed the burdens.

Nor, I then knew would there

ever be such scars upon him.

How old he was in years could not be known

but he was young as the ancient often are.

“Stop my son” said he. “Here, while you are

not yet too far from the cross road.”

“Look carefully, before you commit your

life, before you cannot go back.

The path ahead is not for all men

only for the mountain’s own

And those who would trespass recklessly

and heedlessly shall pay in blood.

Look back upon the path you did not take

and see what all you forsake.

As here you tread, you forsake a road

wide, easy and well-traveled.

You forsake the ready comfort of

fellow men frequent upon your path.

You forsake an easy grade and

mild and forceless storm.

Never shall your heart be tried

or lungs hot-burned and breathless.”

“Why” then said I, “do I hear a moan

and cry from those beside that path?

What shall become of those who lay

beside it in the stinking filth and slime?”

“Oh” said he, “they shall rise and walk

a ways before they fall again.

Always it has been that they shall fall

and moan and then be answered by the same.”

“Why then” asked I “should I not take

this road and forego the stink and moans?”

Slowly and then with force and speed

he turned and spoke to me.

“On this road you shall not moan,

instead you will cry out to un-answering silence.

Never shall your cries be answered,

even until your agony rings within your soul.

You shall not smell the odor

of the slime of the world

But the stench of the corruption within your

own soul shall be ever in the very winds about you.”

“I do not choose of my own, for to me

the mountain said ‘Come!’” I replied again.

“I would know why you then travel

this route, and have for your own ages.

I would know why I have seen

the ones beside the “easy trail” as I have.”

“To both” he replied “is one the same

answer for all time.

The mountain calls her own

and gives sight of what really is for all men.

For the mountain opens the sight

of those she calls to life upon her bosom.

You have seen the wayfaring of those upon

the easy path as it is, just as I too have seen.

But as you shall find here the reality

of those who truly see is in truth more harsh.

For to us who have been called

is the waking of those who live within dream.” To 09/06/2011

So for us good sir, I replied, reality as harsh as the

stones beneath our feet must be our lot and hope?

“Yeah, stones indeed, stones not yet broken free from

our pathways crust and seemingly impassible to

Those who would see us from afar, but needful footing to our

forward travel if we keep true to our lives ahead.”

True lives ahead? Asked I, “then I do not now know the truth

of my own life now and cannot keep un-truth?

“It is so,” he replied to me, “your life now is an untruth that must

be remade and retold to venture forward on your call.

In the silence of the path ahead you will forget the un truths told

by those who cannot and will not take this trail

You will hold yourself open to the elements that can remake you

And nurture you even in the harshest challenge it can give.

Neither soul or body will remain un-changed with your answer to

The call of the Mountain, but you will reach its summit

Showing forth a reality unknown before to those who would hold

you back from the journey and keep you ever as they would

Bind you in their reality of the common easy trail that would

in its time have lead you to your spirit’s death”

At that, he left me, leaving me to love and fear the road ahead

A road that would reshape body and spirit and would

In the days ahead lead me to a summit reachable only by those who

hear a call within themselves to a path they alone must take

To a destiny that is the reality of their lives and not to a destiny that is

pre-ordained by others for others purposes and dreams.

So today once more I hoist my load and look forward to a summit of

My own reality and beauty that no other can ascend.

UNFINISHED 09/06/2011

[Charlize]

Thank you Vicky. One reading is certainly not enough. Once more in the morning when i'm fresh.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest Brenda Hailey]

Wow Vicky what an awesome Poem.

I tightly cinch the straps of my pack

"Never shall your cries be answered,

even until your agony rings within your soul."

Thats why I was ignored for so long!!!!

"As here you tread, you forsake a road

wide, easy and well-traveled.

You forsake the ready comfort of

fellow men frequent upon your path.

You forsake an easy grade and

mild and forceless storm."

The lure of such an easy path kin to the call of alcohol . Sublime in its promise,but lacking the fruit of truth,honesty,and vital experience of healed wounds.

"To a destiny that is the reality of their lives and not to a destiny that is

pre-ordained by others for others purposes and dreams.

So today once more I hoist my load and look forward to a summit of

My own reality and beauty that no other can ascend."

This summits reward... freedom!

Thanks for sharing Vicky it was certainly worth the wait to see finished such a fine understanding and portrayal of struggle, pain,and fortitude.

Brenda Hailey

[Guest miss kindheart]

UNFINISHED 09/06/2011

Ended it me thinks you did

vanna

[Charlize]

Vicky it took me a while to read it again. I am so glad i did and even more glad to share a path with people like you.

Hugs,

Charlize