Journey to Ixtlan

The poem “The Mountain Stands” is based on the spiritual tale about seeing the mountain three times.


The Mountain Stands

The mountain stands against the sky
seen three times by the wise
allowing for the depths of pain
while dispelling the sad dismay
allow the stanzas to progress
don't turn away before the end
both the pain and then relief
I'll tell it all with these words

the first time was the worse
crushing heights without remorse
I stood in shadow at their feet
asking how I would survive
these monsters consumed the sun
leaning close to steal my breath
plunging life into the dark
an empty void destroying life

the second time retrieved my soul
edifices were lost from sight
vanished by the sentiments
the knowledge of God's full grace
hills to molehills became my chant
thankfulness of the cup passed
sins were forgiven in recompense
against damnation sourced from lies

the final time I returned
to the realm shared by all
the mountain stood in majesty
humanity's admission of frailty
yet the villain of past days
was not the master of strangling fear
I stood before trouble's face
knowing torment would fade away.

© 2018. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20180711.