Prompted by Poet's Place Cafe

The Sierras and the Pacific

The Sierras and the Pacific

Part I
The Sierras call
          In the east the mountains rise, rocky and steep,
         with craggy boulders that one must scramble or leap.

Evergreens stand sentinel
         Prepared for snow, their branches reach down
         with glossy green needles, from base to crown

Wildlife abounds
         Squirrels scurry, coyote stalk, black bears roam,
         a young buck rubs a tree to shed his velvet loam.

Seasonal paradise
         Ski races, skating on ice, lounge by a fire, best winter sport,
         splash in the summer lakes, ride a horse, or hike in shorts.
         The Sierras call.

Part II
Sirens of the Pacific
         Lazily stroll barefoot on the warm wet sandy shore
         toes tickled by foam, and listen to the ocean roar.

Madrones, on guard
         Sculptured by the wind these red trees bend east,
         knarled driftwood and seaweed add to the visual feast

Bounty of the sea
         In the ocean’s depth reside creatures enormous and tiny,
         some cling to rocks, some swim deep, and some are briny.

Year-round action
         Bikini or wetsuit, surfing, kayaking, sunbathing or fishing,
         and best of all, a bonfire on the beach and moonlight kissing.
         Sirens of the Pacific.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

Notes ▼

26 Lines
"Form of the week: Sidewalk Poem"