My Mountain Lake - A Poem

Explanation

I have been writing (mostly bad) poetry since I was 21.  This is very odd considering I absolutely hate poetry.  Poetry drives me up a wall.  As a form of writing, it tends to be overly impressed with itself.  If someone wishes to say something, it's best just to come out and say it instead of tying it up in uselessly colorful words that confuse the entire situation.

So . . . now that I've gone on a rant about how much I dislike poetry . . . Let's get back to the fact that I write it. *sigh*  The fact of the matter is, poetry is a very useful tool for writers.  It's a way to get concepts, images and ideas onto paper and experiment with words.  It's also awesome for saying lovey-dovey-gushy stuff.

This specific poem is about Muncho Lake in the Colorado Rockies of Northern British Columbia. Muncho Lake  It was a sight I viewed while driving to Alaska back in 1994.  The scene is as I remember it in the morning after sleeping in my little Toyota pickup truck overnight.

From Wikipedia:
The jade green color of the lake is attributed to the presence of copper oxide leached from the bedrock underneath. Its name is derived from the Kaska language in which "muncho" translates as "big water".

Please understand that this was written before I was writing consistently.  The technical merits of the writing are . . . non-existant.  It could be written much better, but I'm not going to edit it.  I figure this will keep me from becoming too impressed with myself if I hit it big. ;)

My Mountain Lake

Snowcapped peaks

Rugged rock

Breaking the sky

Towering over land

Clouds above

Bringing moisture of life

Waiting for time

To release their gift

Beams of light

Parading down

Godly in manner

Brilliantly shining

A lake of jade

Calm little rippled

Silently lapping

Upon shores of grass

Trees climbing mountains

Douglas and spruce

Orange and red

Yellow and green

Swans passing over

On their way south

Spreading their wings

spreading their beauty

Over this I look

Gazing at this sight

Holding my breath

In wonder and awe

I am filled with amazement

At a sight of such beauty

I now leave my body

And play in this space

Over this lake I fly

Under the water I gaze

Hopping from peak to peak

I revel in life

Freedom is here

Untainted and true

Pleasure and beauty

Of the artist unknown

I look back toward my body

Basking in joy

I am at peace

With all that I am

Thank you my mountain lake

For sharing your beauty

FOr sharing your tapestry

For simply being there

I will always remember

The joy you have given

I will someday return

To see you again

Copyright 1994 John H. Carroll