i see you, bighorn sheep
on the steep mountain ledge and crevice
your hooves fitting & climbing
through rocky terrain, stealthy as poet's muse
[what is so grand about you?]
you carry your large horns, smouldering spirals
as stately crown as your rich summer brown coat
your watchful gaze is steady
on the wide field of grass & clover & sage
oak and fir trees dot along the unpaved roads
where predators prowl waiting
for your missteps & fall
[can you remind me what is so special about you?]
you are patient as the slow moving clouds
watching the blue sky expanding, unfenced & unguarded
as your wild heart, beating to the call of northern winds
there is a sacred
pact between you
and the mountain gods
[i respect it and wait for the clarion call]
Posted for dVerse Poets Pub- Creatures of the Blank Space, hosted by Dora. Years ago, we visited the Banff Mountains in Alberta, Canada, where we saw the Bighorn Sheep by the mountain sides. They are spectacular creatures with massive horns.
I do not think any more needs to be said what is special... let the clarion call
ReplyDeleteThey are such amazing creatures, those bighorn sheep; they make ours seem boring in comparison. I love the comparison ‘stealthy as poet's muse’.
ReplyDeleteTotally bewitching, as is your poem, Grace.
ReplyDeleteenough said great just like the bighorns themselves
ReplyDeleteBeautiful writing, and I loved this line :"stealthy as poet's muse"; such an enticing, ancient yet so today, line.
ReplyDelete"your hooves fitting & climbing
ReplyDeletethrough rocky terrain, stealthy as poet's muse"
Yes! Throughout the poem, you've described this magnificent animal so well....patience, "a sacred pact between you and the mountain gods." Beautifully writ.
This captures well your bond with the natural world--the ordinary magic that your poetry so often illuminates.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful poem. Big Horn sheep are magnificent creatures!
ReplyDeleteI have never seen one of these but, I am sure it was an amazing sight. Surely, they must have a pact with the mountain gods.
ReplyDeleteExcellent metaphor for writing, all the pitfalls and crevices, self doubt and just waiting for the call!
ReplyDeleteMountains beckon!
ReplyDeleteI love them too :)
Call of the Bighorn .... who could resist.
ReplyDeleteI am Kathy at writingpresence.com and couldn't leave the following comment:
ReplyDeleteLoving this, Grace. It leaves me feeling spacious and expansive, and hopeful for you, and myself refreshed by all that clear air at the lofty heights where the bighorns sure-foot (verb), and dispay their majestic prides x
May the call sound clear upon the horn and drum!
Loved the steadiness of the Bighorn sheep as your approach to writing. well done...it fits! ~ sillyfrog
ReplyDeleteThe Clarion call rings in my soul as well. Grace. Nice piece.🙂✌🏼🫶🏼
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of the big horn sheep as the poet's muse.
ReplyDeleteSome poems do travel a bit and gaze until they can bloom
ReplyDeleteLovely poem, Grace.❤️
ReplyDeleteWonderful metaphor, Grace! Nature truly embues your writing with magic.
ReplyDeleteEnchanting!
ReplyDeleteWonderful
ReplyDeleteI like how you repeatedly asked the bighorn sheep “what is so special about you?” I especially love these lines:
ReplyDelete“ you are patient as the slow moving clouds
watching the blue sky expanding, unfenced & unguarded
as your wild heart, beating to the call of northern winds”
Beautiful poem, Grace. Standouts are the horn crowns and the pact with the mountain gods.
ReplyDelete