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! :)

[Sharon L.H. Kelly]

And his soul was tethered no more. A rebirth of sorts, on his terms, in his beloved mountains. His tenacity was palpable. Well penned.

[Zahra]

thank you very much Sharon. :)

[CA Anurag Sharma]

this is just brilliant...we only live once... how at times we feel low in life... its the love for what we want to do that keeps us alive....

[Zahra]

well said. thanks for reading.

[Einstein Noodle]

so nice to meet you Anurag ... i had the greatest time working on this with Zahra ... thank you for taking time to read and review
E.

[CA Anurag Sharma]

I thoroughly enjoyed this work... thanks for sharing this brilliant piece.... :)

[Bright Ocean Star]

Beautiful composition, you two! An excellent description of those rugged mountain men who still exist. They don't want anything to do with civilization; they'd be at peace to die on a clifftop somewhere their spirit can soar with the Eagles. Very nice writing!

[Zahra]

Thanks a lot for your beautiful words. :)

[Bright Ocean Star]

You are welcome..:)

[Einstein Noodle]

hi Bright one! glad you enjoyed the mountain tops and eagles ..
E

[TL Boehm]

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.

this part especially just grabbed me and would not let go

[Zahra]

thank you very much TL Boehm.

[Einstein Noodle]

love ya TL!! i am watching for a new post from you!! ;)
E.

[Cameron Griffith]

“Bearing scratches of diseased years” can I steal this!! Just kidding, awesome writing, loved how descriptive you were with the human body and comparing it to the times that the man has been through and also to objects, such as the blue vein as a roadmap. Beautifully done.

[Zahra]

thank you very much Cameron.

[FOih;]

I'm going to reread this more than I already have...but I think this is honestly the best work you two have done thus far! Keep it up you guys! 100/100

[Zahra]

Thank you very much Ian. :)

[Geo Lawrence]

well deserving. Keep up the good work!

[Zahra]

thanks a lot.

[emmajoy]

In spite of its sadness, this poem holds amazing hints of calm and strength melded into a lifetime of living and.. living for real, not a trial, but using every hour in the glory of just being up and up in the mountains, puffing along stony paths and up inclines to the summit of air, endless air and the views ahead. That's what life is.. and that sad picture of rosaries and doctors and the walkers' return is just beautiful. Nothing lost, Everything gained.

This is a superb collaboration, fine use of words, carefully laid

[Zahra]

thanks a lot.

[KAOlmsted]

Syncope? Really? In what context...? Loss of words? Irremedial...can't cure that loss of words? Okay. Nice job, kid.

[Einstein Noodle]

syncope as in heart condition ... irremediable as in adios boys..the parties over ;) at least that is how i saw it .. i like your take tho ..and words it certainly can be ... they do fail us ...many many times ;) but Zahra will have to weigh in and clarify as well ..nice to see you KAO ..tho my comment is late ... coming to see you soon :)
E.