Wainwright Mountain
Individual stalks of goldenrod and a dark plant
With broken flowers stick up together above it.
Powder and seeds are gone but the shells keep open
To the end. Walking around the edge you watch out
For barbs and briars that poke through the cover.
On the woods road to the cedar swamp a smooth grey
New forest of maple springs up and snaps back.
The black interior is a jumble of branches roots
Fallen trees rocks and empty pits between them.
You stumble around the obstructions by wet bark with lichen.
Coming out it's easier to follow where the clearing
Makes a gash of light ahead. Crossing the brook
Water in a pool lies quiet and clear under ice.
Along with the next breath you take in high ledge
Close by and a view of distant hills in clouds.
plATTsBURgh
Shopping in town for things you need you stop for a bite.
Two fat girls at the all-you-can-eat buffet go back
Again and the sports lettering sticks out in front of them.
One is bigger with a boy cut. The tail is bobbed
And the fabric behind loosens and pulls tight over the flesh.
Back at the table they look up working their mouths
And when the one with long hair flicks her head
Gold rings on the ears match the ones on the fingers.
Some text is hidden and it's hard to read. Next time
You watch they're gone and you don't see them leave.
Offduty servicemen in boots chow down together
Their heads glasses and hair sticking above the
camouflage.
A grey lady has a scarecrow with her. She examines
Her dish and wipes it with a napkin. They hover
Over the steam table taking their time with the choices.
There's a price to pay for these perceptions and small comfort
When the waitress brings the beer. The fortune you open
Offers a wise consolation or points to an unverifiable future.
Passing between the meals on the way out your feet clack
On the plastic floor and you can't see where you've been.
Feinberg Library
Winter break the fifties entrance is all glass blank walls
And an oversize head. A brass plaque reminds you
Who saved the place after a bad fire in '29.
The institutional sculpture suggests the human mind
Abandoned to the worst possible considerations.
In periodicals recent opinion is spread out
In a clutter on the shelves the voices giving lip service
To art and life as they know it. The old ones
Are crammed on stacks behind in buckram bindings
Over heavy board. The outlook is bleak.
You find a silent page and run the words
Through the intricate channels you have to make them audible
Trying to learn what happens to them after death.
Closing time they blink the lights and a bright girl smiles
And holds open the door for you still talking to another.
She accepts him in a further step of the selection process
Facing him square on in the confines of the auto front seat
The soft eyes briefly meeting his before the lips touch.
The moon on the way home makes a similar passage
And a spray of resinous needles brushes your face with it.
Jay NY 1/4/95
Poetry at Fourpeaks.
(A Complete Poetry Index.)
Camp. Repose in a natural place.
Wainwright Mountain. Camp and the everyday world.
Connery Pond. Louise and Martin.
Giant Mountain. Louise and the kids.
Cascade Lakes. The kids.
Feeding Birds In Winter. The life cycle.
More Adirondack Poems.
New York City Themes. (A change of pace.)
Order Information: Poems For My Kids. (Including Author's Biographical Note.)
Email the Author. (Exchange poems or . . .)
.
Are you in this picture?
Fourpeaks hosts now welcome paying guests to a 700-acre rest and playground for vacations in the Adirondack Great Camp tradition. Couples appreciate Fourpeaks secluded settings. Adventure families have fun exploring our accessible wilderness. Folks with dogs enjoy the open spaces to run their pets. A private nature retreat, a place for restoring personal energies. Are you in this picture? CLICK HERE to find out! [More about this at Frequently Asked Questions.]
Inquire about a Fourpeaks Adirondack Vacation/Getaway. (Easy Inquiry Form.)
(Easy Email form.)
Tollfree or 
Cell phone contact any time.
Keep up with us through occasional newsletters. CLICK for sample.
"Hints of Balsam and Pine from our Corner of the Adirondacks"
Join our mailing list! (Easy form.)
to Tell a Friend! (Easy popup Email form.)
Please Rate Our Fourpeaks Website.
Whether you're an experienced webmaster or just a novice surfer, you may have feedback or suggestions to help us improve. We well remember the visitor a year or so ago who complained about the unpleasant glare from the HTML default royal blue links. That lead us to entirely revamp our background and link colors, making them softer, more eye pleasing. And the Florida expert who warned us about frustrating visitors with blind links. We followed his advice and now carefully identify each link so visitors know before they "click" exactly where they're clicking to.
Your comments or suggestions will be equally appreciated.
[CLICK HERE for easy email form for your feedback/suggestions.] Thanks.
