Wild West Wind

We were traveling roads out west

'cross the plains of the great divide

We'd been up into Canada

a country that’s both tall and wide

We drove across the Queens Highway

over the mountains one by one

To the North West Territories

in the land of the midnight sun

 

Where we came upon a mountain

that was cleaved in half at the top

At the bottom lay the result

for there the road came to a stop.

Where once had been a little town

now lay the boulders far and wide

An earthquake had torn it in half

and ripped off an entire side

 

At the base of the mountain lay

a plaque inscribed with all the names

Of those who had perished there

all the families who'd lost their claims

Each of them were drawn by riches

to the gold fields of the North West

There strong of heart, sought a new start

and were willing to brave the test

 

An old woman in the diner

where we stopped to marvel the scene

Set there telling us the story

as she managed to cook and clean

"Only one soul had made it out

and lived through that horrible day"

"You know" she said, “they went to bed

that same night that they passed away"

"The night before had seen a storm

that blew a gale across the bridge

They'd built with pride, to the far side

that led to the top of the ridge

There they had drilled and dug and fought

to reach the gold and silver vein

like the miners, Forty Niners

and their kin of the Spanish Maine"

 

"A child’s cry was the only sound

that could be heard that fateful morn"

But after that I'm sure she wished

that perhaps she'd never been born

The old woman’s face lined with pain

told how she'd lived through cold and fright

Recanted as if yesterday

for the folks she had lost that night 

  

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Author's Note

Around 1990 I was out in western Canada in the mountains near the north west territories when I came upon this missing town. Sometime between 1907 and 1910 a small town was lost to a earthquake. There I came face to face with history. This is an attempt to do justice to those whose warm hearts are buried there in the cold cold ground.

Reviews

[...]

Another wonderful poetic story here Tate :)

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Lynn yes it was even more amazing to see in person as the road stopped at a pile of boulders the size of houses the edge of the town

[Tomás Ó C..]

A great read... a tragic tale...

[Tate Morgan]

Hey Tomas How are you Havent heard from you in a while Hope all is well hank you

[Tomás Ó Cárthaigh]

All is grand... publishing mainly via the website www.writingsinrhyme.com and active in the Tullamore Rhymers Club. Working on getting the cottage finished, hope to get it done for March.

[Tate Morgan]

sounds like fun man. merry christmas

[Sunflower/Sara Kendrick]

Wonderful yarn that you have woven in poetic expression..I enjoyed reading it this afternoon..Sara

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you so much Sara

[Sunflower/Sara Kendrick]

Tate,

You are quite welcome..

Sara

[David O Whalen (O Haol..]

I truly admire all of your work Tate, but have to admit that while the visuals are great I think they lend a social media air to this site and the visuals and clips define this site more so than the poetry. I'm probably just old fashioned and maybe that's how this site should be defined. I post on 5 sites and This is usually the least visited by me since the others are more poetry centered. The redeeming factor for this site is the great talent of some of the writers. (such as yourself) You guys are probably the wave of the future! Too bad for me!

[Tate Morgan]

thank you dave i dont know if we are the future but i am happy to share this spot with you

[MoriartyMesa]

You know if you hit the history tone, I will perk my ears up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7sCElGvOGo

[Tate Morgan]

will DO MORIARTY

[Gleb Zavlanov]

A very beautiful poem with an old,western feel. Love it!

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Gleb

[Gleb Zavlanov]

It was my pleasure.

[yuta]

I love the western feel of your poetry and the picture of the beautiful mountains are soothing. Can't wait til I get to the point in life where I can go to a peaceful place. That was a very good poem and likes the page.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Yuta i am sorry it took me so long i have been taking a break

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

This is a masterpiece - history reborn on the lips of a child who lived to tell the tale. Each word is a nugget, each line the cleansing water, the poem a polished jewel.

Linda Marie

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Linda

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

My pleasure! :-)

[lei]

what a beautiful tribute, Tate

[Tate Morgan]

Lei you know I truly have missed hearing for you thank you

[EMMIE]

This is a really nice dedication to all those people. Very creative and unique style of writing, as always.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Emmie Nice to hear from you tonight

[EMMIE]

been a while lol

[Tate Morgan]

Yes a long time but the door is always open the coffee on and your chair by the light with the steaming coffee preserved for your return

[EMMIE]

Ha ha ha! Cute! Let's make that tea though, coffee is like a laxative for me. Doesn't sit well with my stomach. But how thoughtful of ya!

[Tate Morgan]

you are welcome always