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

[OTownPete]

Wonderfully lyrical storytelling of the first order. Quite a sobering tale you have weaved here Sir. Your friend in words, Pete

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Pete i am Tate Nice to meet you .Thank you for such a sunny review

[Mockingbird]

it's good to have found somebody who can tell the story of those who died. great tribute to those who lost their lives.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you Mockingbird

[Dayran]

A great story old timer ... its something that always gets to me ... there you are simply looking around and then somebody tells you a story about it and you realize you are seeing something more. Nice touch.

[Tate Morgan]

Yeah it is always that way for me too.One day i walk down the road and see something that was right in front of me for the longest time.,unnoticed Thanks Sri

[nana]

So nice to see you back to writing again Tate. As always a beautiful piece of work.

[Muse]

Good to see my advice actually works at times. :)

I would have loved to see that place. There's an unexplainable feeling that stirs the soul while walking on sacred ground. You may not have been a witness to this downs demise, but you gave the these people a voice. Beautiful work Tate.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Muse you are adorable

[Muse]

town not downs...oh my...I went to bed early last night...proof I was exhausted. lol

[Rita L. Sev]

This is a vivid, heart tugging chapter of history, so well written. You take the reader with you to that town in this poem, Tate. Really enjoyed this.

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Rita thank you

[joshua deathdealer]

I like how history is woven in with the story and the surprise ending. Splendid!!

[Tate Morgan]

Thanks Josh man its a been a long time since i heard from you Nice to see you

[Baby Ricochet]

THARS GOLD IN THEM THAR HILLS!! Unfortunately so was death. The 19th century was a rough time. It's no wonder everyone got hammered every chance they got, A lot like now really. Great poem Tate

[Tate Morgan]

Men will be men in any age wont they ?

[s y e]

This is a lovely story Tate, love the message your portrayed here too. This piece is filled with history, a great write.

[Tate Morgan]

Thanks Noodloo