The Mountain that hid

 The beautiful drive to the mountain.

Trees of green, tall, so tall they seemed to touch the sky.

The morning was of blue, clouds here and there.

The weather cool and crisp.

As the road took us upward, higher and higher.

The trees were everywhere, to the bottom of us, the sides of the cliffs, the valleys and hollows.

The running of the creek below, its rushing waters, cold as the snow-covered mountain above.

Waterfalls blending into the glazier rocks, as its tumbles to the valley below.

The clouds were getting darker, lower and heavier.

So thick, from the skies, down to the roads.

 Thousands of feet above the valley floor. 

Nothing to be seen, no trees, no sky. no valleys, no roads.

Stay in place was the safe thing to choose, two, three hours, we didn't know.

Then like magic, the clouds were lifting higher and higher.

It opened up the beauty we were missing.

We could see the treetops, ever so green, so tall.

The mountain peaks, valleys of snow.

The rocks of grey and white laying on the mountain side.

As we walked, we could hear the gathering of the head waters, as they floated to the valley, ice cold from the glaziers above.

We could see the bird's gathering food, for yet another day.

The temperature was cold, this old flannel shirt sure felt good.

As we descended down the mountain from 40* then 50* up to 65*, it was like a heatwave as we headed below.

We didn't get to see it all, because it was the mountain that hid.

Are we glad we took the trip, yes, we are glad we did.

Michael VanDyke 2024 @C....

The Cabin

 As the sun was setting behind the tall pines, deer were coming out to graze.

The birds, I think Robins, gathering food for themselves after the months of feeding their young, maybe a treat for themselves.

I see the tall wildflowers of white and purple, the little ones of yellow, blue and white.

The grass was thick, a very dark green,

Gathering moisture from the morning dew of daybreak, hours before.

A breeze came through a few moments ago, to chase the flying bugs away.

The enjoyments I see, I hear

Of natural beauty, that's offered for free.

Two chairs in the yard, side by side

With a fire pit ready to lite.

Making the night air dance with flames of warmth, from the logs within.

I see the fern with its leaves, hiding the shadows of the ground below.

As the sun sits deeper behind the trees.

Let the darkness come with quietness and blanket the sky, trees and plants.

Letting the earth take a rest before the sun rises again.

Michael VanDyke 2024 @C....