Mountaintop Mining and Returning North

[hawked]

This actually has two poems - although not directly related, there is an Appalachian theme involved. The first hopefully will incite, and the second will bring another side of that region back.

Mountaintop Mining
bituminous fires stoked
to fuel our insatiable lust
our consumptive yearning
and at what cost?

Appalachian mountains razed
headwaters crystalline, pristine and ageless

suffocated

regulatory corruption
that leaves:
dreams washed away
drowned in a toxic slurry
broken homes covered in coal dust
schoolchildren ill
death

unacceptable consequences
a past repeated and magnified
ignorance and unaccountability
sparking a rage against

ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel destruction
a mountain’s history plateaued

but not forgotten

the human costs immeasurable
another generation of Appalachia
suffered by coal barons
a hillbilly culture bloodied
a heritage seamed with coal
arising
to battle

to protect what has not been taken
the diversity of rich mesophytic forests
the value of an American culture
pride, dignity, and well being.


Returning North
For southern hemisphere visitors
winters arrival hastens
a northward bound struggle
time-tested and worn
yet still evolving
crossing sea water barrier
(engulfing those weak or sick)
to barrier islands, a place of refuge
refueling before a coastal invasion
an explosion of myriad colors
blackburnian fire
yellow-gold vibrant life alights
on sandy earth beside
scarlet flames singing hungrily
every tree and shrub a storm of feathers
spring's avian vanguard falls out
against northerly winds from natal lands
Appalachia’s glorious song returning

[Michael]

hawked, thanks for the explanation of the first poem. I will say, though, that the essence of what is expressed in “Mountaintop Mining” is sufficiently clear.

We have been called a “throw away” society, not wanting to think about what happens when we “throw things away”.

In the same sense, this poem speaks to another kind of “intentional ignorance”. We feel the warmth in the winter and don’t want to know how much it’s costing our planet to obtain that warmth.
ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel destruction
a mountain’s history plateaued
The combination of the last two words in these lines creates a vivid allusion and does, indeed, incite.

A sad but well written narrative of greed.

I’m sorry, hawked, but I don’t get a vision when I read “Returning North”. My denseness is probably triggered by some images that don’t seem to be related to one another.

For example, this piece seems to be in line with “Mountaintop Mining” in that it deals with Appalachia. Yet, Appalachia is nowhere near the “southern hemisphere”. I’m thinking that the reference to the southern hemisphere has to do with migrating birds, but I’m not sure.

In fact, as I read it again for the umpteenth time, I’m sure that you refer to birds that migrate from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere and, more specifically, to Appalachia.

Having presented my ignorance, the references themselves, even if the subject matter is a little over someone’s (my) head, are poetically creative.
blackburnian fire
yellow-gold vibrant life alights
on sandy earth beside
Just as you took poetic license with the word “plateaued” in the first poem, so, too, do you write "outside the box" when you use the word “blackburnian” to describe the fire about which you write.

I’m sure if I ever figure out what you’re saying, which is probably obvious, the creative use of words in “Returning North” will mean as much to me as it does in “Mountaintop Mining”.

You’re a very creative and talented poet, IMHO.

[hawked]

Michael,

Thank you for the compliments on Mountaintop Mining. Indeed a sad tale.

Returning North is indeed about birds. Specifically, migratory birds that "winter" in the southern hemisphere and return north just as winter returns to the southern hemisphere. Many of these migrants cross the Gulf of Mexico and reach landfall on barrier islands along the gulf states where they briefly refuel (some also keep flying past the islands and reach further inland - where they land depends largely on weather and condition of the individual birds). Not all complete the journey.

blackburnian fire refers to blackburnian warbler
yellow-gold can refer to any number of birds
scarlet flames refers to scarlet tanagers

spring's avian vanguard falls out
against northerly winds from natal lands

refers to north winds putting large numbers of migrants down before reaching the mainland (barrier islands) - fall out is a birding term for this phenomenon and is used whenever some weather event halts migration of birds and they are forced to land (sometimes in highly unusual habitat).

the last line is about the birds singing upon returning to their breeding grounds.

I must admit that this isn't an easy poem to understand unless one has a rather indepth understanding of migratory behavior of birds and knows the birds that I've referenced. Probably something geared more towards avid birders.

And again, thank you for your kind words. They are most appreciated

[e-piph[lol]]

the Appalachians are a familiar range to me..
tho its been a long time since i actually hiked them

enjoyed both these poems// tho the first is a bit disturbing

[cailin_t]

I didn't have to look too hard to find you once I was directed to this site by you.. I clicked on nature poetry, then the first bird-related username I found. ;) Maybe I'll go post my angsty **** in the death/depressive section now! haha.