"Gratitude"
Grandness often seems far beyond my reach,
often overlook simplicity, plainness
as frugal providence.
I'm guilty of shallow breathing, of peripheral vision
instead of clear eyed perseverance.
A steady, four-mile mountain trail up, up, up… I tread slowly,
pause, wipe sweaty brow, battle fatigue, defeat;
inhale deeply soul-invigorating Virginia air,
notice nature's unpretentious ornamentals -
their unique patterns, bursting colors.
You forge ahead, undaunted conquerer,
but come back. Offer water, encouragement.
Reward this day will not be the noble, majestic view
but the struggle of achievement and appreciation
of your steadfast soul which helps me along the way.
Margaret Bednar, September 4, 2014
This if for "dVerse - Meeting The Bar - a nod to Rilke"
McAfee's Knob, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Roanoke, Virginia - (I think I saw your house, Brian:)
Excellent poem about your day Margaret, the struggle and persevence to complete the task. Very well done.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a strength in what you describe, the gentle strength that lifts others.
ReplyDelete73 miles....youknow we could have had lunch, just saying...smiles...its a beautiful hike...i have done it...and love the steadfast soul which helps with the climb...smiles.
ReplyDeletei sense your compassion in nature... lovely hike and state... thanks for sharing pictures
ReplyDeletethat steadfast soul which helps along the way is worth gold... sounds like an awesome hike and what beautiful nature... love the view though i agree..it's not the most important thing..
ReplyDeleteI think your poem goes beyond the climbing of a mountain, as a metaphor for our daily chores.. of seeing the peripheral... that touched me a lot.. and the true reward that helping hand.
ReplyDeleteYou put me in mind of a wonderful song from my childhood about a tiny engine who said 'I know I can'...and did.
ReplyDeleteEven when treading slowly, I think one can appreciate the beautiful view. And with an encouraging fellow traveler, all the better. I like the last stanza. Reminds me of my climbing of Diamond Head. What a struggle indeed, but I felt SO good for the accomplishment1
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful view Margaret ~ That's enough to refresh me after a long struggle up the mountain ~ Lovely photographs including your header which makes me hungry, smiles ~
ReplyDeleteI'm a nightmare for shallow breathing. Something I'm trying to work on. The accomplishment after the struggle can feel so rewarding.
ReplyDeleteWith the view your poems crosses many ideas of struggle and reward.
ReplyDeleteBefore my disability, I did love to hike in the two mountain ranges here in WA state; your poem captures so much of that experience; & I loved how you made the poem many-layered, adventurous, romantic, philosophic; a terrific fun take on the prompt enhanced by the photographs.
ReplyDeleteBefore my disability, I did love to hike in the two mountain ranges here in WA state; your poem captures so much of that experience; & I loved how you made the poem many-layered, adventurous, romantic, philosophic; a terrific fun take on the prompt enhanced by the photographs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post, both in its sentiment and in the details of that surrounded you that day. The pictures are lovely too. Thank you for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteThe essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.
ReplyDelete~Friedrich Nietzsche
Beautiful words and your capture life so well and gracefully. :)
I do indeed have much gratitude living at the base of the Blue Ridge myself.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Prose.
I do indeed have much gratitude living at the base of the Blue Ridge myself.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Prose.
Margaret, love your twist on that ending, that is a wonderful thing, as well as the view! Beautiful write :-)
ReplyDeleteyour last three stanzas are soul invigorating too...great lines
ReplyDeleteWhat a tender poem of interdependence. you show a couple forging ahead with mutual reliance, using the fine metaphor of hiking and exploring the world together.
ReplyDelete