By Cornelia DeDona, Member at Large
Kingston, New York
The Shawangunk Mountains And Mohonk Preserve
are my church
a photographer’s dream
an obsession.
I return
to scramble
Giant’s Path
Rock Rift
Bonticue Crag.
I return
to capture black snakes slithering
through the foothills
to meditate on the serenity at Duck Pond,
snacking on wild blueberries.
I rejoice in making a photo
of two Turkey Vultures perched on a ledge
then follow them with my telephoto lens
as they take flight
and then circle back to
inspect their new home.
I witness
fellow hikers’ reflections
in pools
beneath waterfalls
the cool mist
sweaty rock panorama.
I return with raw
close-ups of Spring’s
trillium erectum
wild ginger, and bloodroot;
all stalwart parishioners.
I return
to pan
Summer’s rhododendron bridge,
and zoom into a cloud
of pink and white mountain laurel.
I return
to shoot Autumn’s
red oak and mountain ash,
to snap the sugar maple’s
red, orange, and yellow leaves,
ablaze in my continuous shutter release.
I return
to marvel at the hypnotic revelation
that is the Gunks.
I return
in Winter
to photograph the glacial majesty,
the mirror images in footprints left behind
to find the divine in a frosty pine.
I return
to capture
the golden light
the blue hour and the twilights
in slow water and ice.
My focus
devout
day in and day out.
I return.
I return.
I return.
http://cornelia-dedona.pixels.com/
Thank-you everyone!! Your comments are much appreciated.
Lovely imagery!
I’d love to see the pictures!!!
This is a beautiful poem. I returned with you. Thank you.
Lovely poem it captures the ever changing beauty of our region nice work Connie
Thank you for publishing this poem. It is especially poignant for me as I grew up here and have returned here after many years away in Hawaii. I believe you can go home again.
Great innovation of this poem covering the different seasons. Great writing Cornelia!
LIKE THIS POEM A GREAT DEAL.
I LOVE UPSTATE NY. ITS GORGEOUS.
I’VE STAYED MANY TIMES AT THE MOHONK MT HOUSE.
I MET AN ELDERLY MAN WHO LIVED THERE ALL YEAR ‘ROUND
HE INVENTED THE OLIMPIC CAMERA. WOW!
sounds like a compelling place in any season. Glad you’ve discovered a place of peace and reflection