The Old Man of Crater Lake

Time runs fluid in these hills,
eons passing in a rush
hours drifting slow and chill—
this is a land the gods have touched.
They wrenched it up and threw it down
and broke the mountain in their wake,
that’s why, here in its shadow, now,
we live beneath a sacred lake—
which holds the truth.

Shadow was a warrior, bold,
who earned much honor from his foes,
he loved a maiden, so it’s told
more lovely than a Mountain Rose—
they dwelt in peace for twenty moons
and Mountain Rose was great with child
til that ill fated winter noon
when their peace broke with weather, wild—
a thunder snow.

The lightning raged, the thunder cracked,
the snow blew thick and blinding white,
the wind found every single crack
and slipped into their house that night.
The storm blew long, a constant shriek—
the mountain cried, the valley froze
and none could save them, young and weak,
Shadow buried Mountain Rose—
with her new son.

When He Who Lives Below was slain
his passageway must needs be shut,
so Him Above sent holy rain
and filled the mountain cauldron up.
The water’s strength holds most things back
but sometimes demons push into
the lake—so monsters may attack
and few indeed seek waters, blue—
too much to lose.

But Shadow felt he’d lost his life,
without his love, he was distressed
and swore he would avenge his wife.
He would complete a vision quest.
Up the mountain, through the snow,
to rim, where he looked to the sun,
and asked for help for those below,
then down the cliff face at a run—
into the lake.

Shadow never came back down,
but since that day, upon the lake,
a hawthorn tree drifts all around,
no wind can tip, no wave can break.
Its stump bleached white and dry and cracked,
below the waves, green, flowing moss
but while it drifts, it holds storms back,
no man will equal Shadow’s loss—
while he’s on guard.

line count: 54

Author's Note: Research Post ▼

I am choosing: Crater Lake, Oregon

Why? Because I feel a connection because I used to live in Oregon when I was very small. I was in Oregon when Mt. Saint Helens erupted in 1980, which is part of the same chain of volcanoes which includes Crater Lake. There’s something about the majesty and power of mountains which appeals to me.

Aspects:

1. The water is an unearthly blue--because the water is snow melt, free from a lot of the impurities which can cloud water.
2. The crater was the site for vision quests.
3. Floating in the water, completely upright and well preserved by the chill, is a hemlock stump that has been there for more than 100 years called "The old man of the lake"

1. http://mikedashhistory.com/2011/05/09/the-old-man-of-the-lake/
2. http://oe.oregonexplorer.info/craterlake/
3. http://bluebook.state.or.us/kids/focus/crater.htm

Prompt for: Jan 9 AND Jan 10, 2016 ▼

Subject or Theme: Creative Mythology: Pick one of the following spots that are considered 'sacred' in various parts of the world: Mt Uluru, Australia, Crater Lake, Oregon, Cenote Sagrado in Mexico, the Grotto/cave, on the West Bank in Bethlehem (NOT the church that has since been built there!), Mount Kailas in Tibet, Mount Sinai in Egypt, Glastonbury Tor in England, Mount Parnassus, Greece or Lake Atitlán in Guatemala and create your own poetic take on a real legend or create your own that fits the place/people, while being respective of the place. These are ancient places and the ideology surrounding them goes back thousands of years. Do keep your poem/story back in those time frames.

My idea came from the following article, but you will need to do some more research on your pick.:(these were chosen from an article: https://www.yahoo.com/travel/these-are-the-worlds-most-beautiful-sacred-places-1... )

Be creative, inventive and try to give your own original take on your poetry. Don't rattle off a list of facts. Give your reader depth, a sense of place and belief. Try to be true to the area and the people while giving a sense of 'this, too, could/might be true.' Hint: Find a real truth and expand from that.

I picked geographical places from the article and scattered around the world that encompass a variety of religions that were or are still followed today while avoiding buildings of any kind. This was not in any way trying to avoid or discount any particular religion, deities or gods.

Word(s) to Include in the poem: eon, fluid, time, truth (or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s) that are not to be used in the poem: myth, legend, year, sky, heaven, believe (or any derivatives, compound or hyphenations of these words)

Additional Parameters: Use the name of the place in your title, but not just the name of the place.

Jan 9th - To be posted by 11:59am on January 10th tomorrow: a simple post with the Where you have chosen, the WHY you chose it and THREE (3) ASPECTS of your place/history you intend to use. Include links to 3 places you have done some research.

Jan 10th - post your completed poem by 11:59am on Monday, January 11th.
It must use the info (in some identifiable form) you posted for the Jan 9th posting!!!!

At least 36 lines or more. Use rhyme or rhythm in this piece as the tales and stories were usually passed down by mouth and tended to have a beat or a cadence to them to facilitate memorization of the tales. These were then told around a wanderer's firepit, in the hall of some dignitary or during a ceremonial occasion.

Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or the brief description of your poem!