Of Mountains and Men - A Collab. With Einstein Noodle

You live only once

Mountaintops from the foggy window

peek inside his tethered soul, sensing

an irremediable  syncope to come,

proponing one last miracle

before consideration on death wishes.

the old man looks upon his shoes

rusty as his hoary heart, bearing

scratches of diseased years

the blurry countenance of the mountains

reminiscence of the man once he was

 Scuffs of adventures come and gone

shoe string broke short still knotted

in place. his bones are at peace and

his mind adds wind to the race

 

saddle soap can perform miracles

parched leather invigorates with treatment

news of the flesh catches like fishing hooks

while the mountains look down in majesty

the old man feels ignition and the dust settles.

 

hands outspread - fingers entangled with rosaries,

weary of counting chants, pills and breaths.

blue veins like a road map delineate his journey.

farewell, he bids, to gossamer repetitions

and numbers; ghosts of years never to come.

 

as the doctors and nurses close the door

old man, old shoes and new found inspiration

gets

                 out

                               of

bed;

goes to the mountain once more.

Author's Note

Reviews

[DIVYA]

There's so much of human nature in these lines...to live is to do what you love. How many of us die in ignominy, never really living our lives the way we would love to. The old man took a re-birth and I loved the story so wonderfully told. My compliments on this lovely collab Zahra. Just LOVED it!

[Zahra]

thank you Divya. It's always an Adventure working with E because of the unique way he approaches a subject. :)

[DIVYA]

You both have done great with the subject at hand. It was a pleasure to read Zahra!

[Einstein Noodle]

yes! thank you Diya! so nice to meet you ..and to Zahra ..the pleasure is all mine young lady! :)

[Rita L. Sev]

First, I have to say that this is a perfect blend of your styles. Your poem tells a sad, brave story that resonates. I know this man; someday (sooner than I realize), I will be this man. Whatever the mountain, on we climb... A richly detailed, beautifully crafted piece, Zahra and E!

[Zahra]

thank you very much Rita

[Tomás Ó C..]

Old age... ahead of us all. Reminds me of Desi, a freind of mine, who spent Christmas Eve looking out the hospital window, walking back and forth to his bead. He died Christmas morning...

[Zahra]

Sorry about your loss Tomas. Thanks for stopping by.

[R Smith]

old man here and looking at a mountain that has to be climbed, guess i qualify for a place in this wonderful poem from 2 wonderful poets, time to start the climb!!

[Zahra]

thank you Richard. I guess there's always a mountain to be climbed.

[Einstein Noodle]

if we climb to the top ... we can ride to the bottom ..thanks sir! :)
E.

[Kshitij Srivastava]

I liked the story told and feel motivated after reading this. I feel pleased with the old man too, how mortality limits his actions not his desires and the never ending spirit. The last stanza was my favourite and the writing is graceful throughout, a great collaboration indeed. :)

[Zahra]

thanks a lot. The ending stanza was penned by Einstein, concluding the poem beautifully.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you Kshitij! nice to meet you!
E.

[Kshitij Srivastava]

Welcome friends. :)

[wordman]

age takes over us all,some it comes gracefully and others not so ,it`s the memories that live on
a great colab

[Einstein Noodle]

i remember vividly a sermon a minister gave a long while back .. punctuating the experiences he had with those dying just as you say ... some very much at peace .. and some raging and fearful .. thank you for reading and for your comments
E.

[wordman]

you`re welcome

[Zahra]

thanks a lot.

[Delmar Cooper]

It ain't over till it's over and maybe not even then.

[Einstein Noodle]

:))))))))))) right on Delmar! right on!!
E.

[Zahra]

maybe not. :-D thanks for stopping by. :)

[~]

Oh my!! This write gave me thrilling goosebumps. I really like the way how you have revealed the beautiful spirit of older age. There is a determination and a strong desire to keep attacking every challenge even though the body might limit them.

A great collaboration and such an inspiring message it has! :D

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you for such kind review moons! appreciate your time taken .. love and peace
E.

[Zahra]

Hey thank you moon for stopping by to read. :)

[Cara]

a very amazing poem, we only live once so lets bring our best to it, thank you for sharing

[Einstein Noodle]

nice to meet you Cara! thank you for taking time to read and comment ... i am gratified that the poem brought those thoughts to you .. and yes ..we certainly do only have one go round;) be well ..peace and health to you
E.

[Cara]

nice meeting you too, and thank you for this lovely poem

[Einstein Noodle]

:) .........

[Zahra]

Thanks a lot Cara for stopping by to read.

[Cara]

anytime :)

[MsJewel]

I love your use of metaphor in this well written and seamless collaboration. Great work!

Julie

[Einstein Noodle]

MsJewel .. i do appreciate you!! your poetry and your attentions ;) thank you so much and very glad you found something good in this one :)
E.

[Zahra]

Hi Julie! Thank you very much for stopping by to read. :)

[KWP]

For some reason me Vipassana experience came to mind ... The rise and fall the rise and fall the rise and rise, the rise and fall and essential that is what existence is the rising and falling of atoms and energy coming together to make a life ... We will experience many rises (ups) and many falls (downs) and life will come in ebbs and flows and sometimes we will all catch a snatch whilst flowing in the eternal river ... Soon enough though, when we allow it, life will flow on ... And I think that's what we learn as we age ... Not to hold the reigns so strong, let go and flow ...

This man you speak of does he know all of this in his heart already ... I am sure it's there ... If not in the surface ... It must be itching for a release ... :-)

I spoke to my father-in-law recently he is 85 and has an incurable cancer ... He told
Me that you look at life much differently when you get to his age ... I thought about that long and hard and I know he is right ... Just the other day I thought to myself even if I die tomorrow at least I can say that I have really lived and already done everything I have ever wanted ...

Thank you for this poem you two ... It is a wee bit sad ... But I will allow it to flow on ... x

[Einstein Noodle]

ohhhhhh my beautiful KWP!! such an in depth and sensitive review .. yes .. i agree .. life changes in an unchanging cascade of events .. and we change our perceptions most routinely and most surely!
:))) love you girl!
E.

[Zahra]

Wow, such wonderfully deep thoughts. Thanks a lot!

[KWP]

Love you right back E x x x x x oh yes yes X