When, not if, the trail leads me
to face the rocky Baboquivari
looming with the threat of jaguars and rattlesnakes,
at least it gives the promise
of Mexican Frankincense
in the burning Sonoran heat.
The taunt retreats,
and for a moment,
is a courting lover
blowing an arid, piney kiss
from a ribbon of birds whistling
in trees near the narrowing peak.
These are no mere trifles. But welcome sugar.
Welcome, sweet. And though the bitter
may not be made quite golden, I’m thankful
God made it so that if the mountain doesn’t move,
and I’m going to have to climb that thing,
at least it sings.
© 2025 Jennifer Wagner
dVerse Poetics: Personifying the Abstract
(life & challenges/trials)
Wonderful, I love the bittersweet feeling and love...the ribbon of birds whistling.
ReplyDeleteBittersweetness is one quality of eros, "the promise ;of Mexican Frankincense / in the burning Sonoran heat." It couples awe with awfulness, tears with joy, the heart enlarged by beloved things it loses. "At least it sings" -- devoutly so! A fine, subtle confection here ...
ReplyDeleteOkay gf, you go do the rattlers, I'll just wait here and cheer from afar, k? Your poem is marvelous, full of perfect and sometimes daunting detail. I just...don't do snakes.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I especially like the way you humanized life's challenges...
ReplyDelete"with a courting lover
blowing an arid, piney kiss
from a ribbon of birds whistling"
"At least it sings" ... as does your poem, a song of incense and kisses to carry one through. So good and true, Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, my heart sang as I read the last lines of your beautifully constructed poem. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteThe imagery of the journey through the desert is an image we can really paint for ourselves... the peaks, and the challenges, but also the sweetness, and it sings.
ReplyDeleteThis poem is so wonderful. The two closing stanzas are especially fine. I love that the mountain sings.
ReplyDeletemarvelous, Jen ~
ReplyDeleteA stunning poem on life's challenges! Beautifully written.
ReplyDeletePoints for the use of "Baboquivari" in a poem!!
ReplyDeleteI like the way you take a difficult situation (climbing the mountain) and find a positive slant (it sings). A good lesson on how to live life.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have a fondness for snakes..to clarify those that aren't poison. I began playing with them as a child. Love this poem. I feel like I've been climbing a mountain since 2019, and have gotten no where. Perhaps I need to start listening to its song.
ReplyDeleteI'll second the "points for the use of Baboquivan" but more than that, this captured the moment so beautifully. It just flowed.
ReplyDeleteThe grit and determination meet the the wild of the journey. I'm glad you enjoyed the singing!
ReplyDelete