When the Sea Came to the Mountains

When the sea came to the mountains

What was it like for you,

O Ancient One?


Were you as shocked as we were

When the ocean sat above you

And the developments below

Left you no good choices?

Was it painful when the winds

Ripped fistfuls of trees

From the roots of your scalp

In the darkness of that confusing night?

When you couldn’t hold on

To your soft, boulder flesh any longer

Were you like the grandson

Clinging to grandma as long as he could manage

Until the forceful waters stripped us all from each other?

Did you look down into this valley

Adding your tears to the deluge

Not wanting to harm

All that you cherished in your shadows?

Were you like the mother

Not one single cell in her body

Wanting to leave her girls on the roof

With all the trauma that would certainly follow

Before letting go

Did you fiercely whisper

Her same last words:

“I love you!”