pine on the peak

pine on the peak
january 2017
Parakino, mangawhero river

The pine holding to its post, image courtesy of Weathercat Productions

on
that
hacked
peak
the
pine holds
the gather of
sheer falling
ridges under
root
a
sole
survivor
atop the
slopes where
a few corpse
stumps remain,
holds
the slip for
as long as
earth
can hold,
pitches its
shadow in
the burn-off
of light
at days end
and
the flood
of dawn,
standing
the stand
of the
brave,
of those who
one day
must
fall
at
their
post

Copyright © 2022 Peter Le Baige.  All Rights Reserved

Click on the link above to hear a reading of the poem.  The accompanying music is from the third piece, ‘Pini del Gianicolo’ (The Pines of the Janiculum) of ‘Pini di Roma’ (Pines of Rome) by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi.