Myriad Trees on Strange Mountains

Myriad Trees on Strange Mountains

The mountains appear to rise out of nothing,

the ground below them wallowing in fog,

insubstantial as sponge, lonely as ground unseen,

unfelt can be.

The mountains appear to rise

out of nothing, their sides steep and pleated

as the empress’s nightgown.

The mountains

appear to rise out of nothing, standing together,

not touching, each one its self first, each one

part of the set sometime later. 

Appearing to rise out of nothing,

the mountains are mysterious, holding

secrets under their stones, unraveling

tight-knit songs in their waterfalls.

The mountains appear to rise out of nothing,

topped by shocks of pine, windless and voiceless.

The dawn rises up the mountains, around the trees, but

under the branches, night clings with long fingers.

Night clings with long fingers and does not let go.

 (Poem by Gillian Wegener, Poet Laureate of Modesto, who will be reading (along with other poets' laureate) at the Poets' Picnic on Sunday, August 4th, at the City Park in Benicia. Park is at the corner of Military and First Street. Picnic begins at noon; reading at 1 p.m. Sponsored by the Benicia Poet Laureate Program and the Friends of the Benicia Public Library. Bring picnic food to share. We provide watermelon, lemonade and water. Bring hat, filding chair and blanket as needed.

Questions: Lois Requist, loisrequist@comcast.net, 707-280-0588 or

 Juanita Martin, freelance@jmartinpoetwriter.com 707-419-2408