Why do I stay on Mt Cardigan

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Why do I stay on Mt Cardigan?
What do I see from its height?

In the first morning light
Fog blankets the valleys
Lines of ridges rise from cottony seas -
Island chains by which some Magellan
Might ghost again toward his Philippines.

Just as the sun rises,
Such a surprising red flare,
My son laughs and reaches.
Frozen in the photo there he stands,
A burning bauble in his hands.

We'd lain sheltered by the cairn,
In a hollow, sandy and slight,
Our sleeping bags stretched side by side,
Only our eyes exposed to the breeze.
We'd called out in delight
As the Perseids cut across the night,
So sudden and so bright.

And before, in the evening,
We'd rested on the Rim Rocks
Having snacked on mountain blueberries
Like the bear and the fox
Who'd've been there if not for us.
We'd watched the sun's demise
Extinguished in the distant haze
Beyond Vermont to the west.
In memory, the night reversed,
Sunset trailing sunrise.

As we hurried down the trail,
Hungry for some breakfast
His young legs carried him fast,
I might as well've been born a snail.
Soon it was just his knapsack
Glimpsed then lost through the trees.
This time was likely the last
I'd find him waiting at the car,
Napping or devouring a snack.
I knew right then I'd been happy
And that the moment was past.

So now, sitting in the bar,
Some football game on the screens.
On your cell you say:
"Yeah yeah, he's doing great,
He likes school,
He's got a girlfriend even."
Me, I stay on Mt Cardigan,
Seeing the whole Milky Way
Arch over my head.
From that height I watch
The family and friends
Standing on the quay
That long forgotten day,
When Magellan set to sea.

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3 Comments
WickedEveWickedEveover 15 years ago
~

This is certainly a quality poem. Anyone can write about their day, their experiences, a moment in their life, but a poet leaves the reader seeing it all and remembering the poet's words, at least for a little while.

Stormy PoetStormy Poetover 15 years ago
Evocative and moving

A beautiful,moving and evocative poem.It sent a shiver down my spine.You have expressed what every parent feels.Thanks so much for sharing this

AnonymousAnonymousover 15 years ago
Wonderful Poem

This poem is mentioned in today's New Poem Review in the Poetry Feedback & Discussion forum. Thanks for the read!