Clouds of Montserrat
No one goes to Montserrat
just to see the clouds
the mountains there extend
beyond the misty shroud
The rugged peaks look out of place
more befitting of the Dolomites
viewed from the valley down below
the spires stretch their heights
Darting in and out of the clouds
is the ascending funicular
up to the monastery it climbs
on a defined path not circular
Clouds do no harm on Montserrat
they even shade the crowds
but no one goes to Montserrat
just to see the clouds
——
——
Images by Ron Rowland, taken on September 17, 2021
Linked to dVerse Poets Pub — Poetics: Concrete or Abstract?, where Ingrid is hosting and asked us to write about concrete subject matter while avoiding the abstract where the following words are banned: soul, love, lust, dreams, sorrow, suffering, heartache, wonder, etc.
Whimsical, I love the repeated line and the reveal of the photograph–stunning.
Thanks. Yes, I liked the opening line and thought I could use it again — I guess it worked.
Did, indeed. Well done.
There was a woman of some infamy in my city. Her first name was Montserrat. Hmm. Lovely poem, by the way!
Sounds like maybe she could be a poem.
Bravo! Loving this Ron! It has a great rhythm to it.
Thanks Carol
This is a wonderful poem Ron. The photos really add a lot to expand the understanding of your poem. the last photo is fabulous!
Thanks Dwight. Digital film is so cheap compared to the cost and time of photography of the “old” days. I can now snap a few dozen photos improving the odds that a few will turn out good, plus we now have our own post-processing.
Yes, it is a photographers dream to have access to photos in this way.
I really liked this Ron. It had a wonderful movement to it and I loved the beginning two lines mirroring the last two ☺️💕
Thanks Christine. (PS – your comment didn’t disappear, but it did get caught up in the “awaiting moderation” machinery)
Oh that’s good. Thanks Ron ☺️💕
Oh, isn’t it an enchanting place? You could do worse than going there just to see the clouds…
Enchanting indeed. Thanks for the prompt.
The repeated line/image anchors the poem in a sort of truth. All visual, but with a lot of thought behind it.
I like that…anchoring in truth. Thanks for your comments Jane.
My pleasure 🙂
Your poem brought back wonderful memories of my visit to Monserrat.. funicular and all! A lovely write ~~~
Thanks Helen. Here’s a bonus photo for you:
https://ronrowland.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Montserrat-funicular.png
Fine photo enhances cool rhyme. Nicely done, OtherRon!
Thanks Ron
I’m sold. I’ll have to add it to the travel list.
Spain was not on my bucket list, but it was on my wife’s list. I’m so glad it was on hers because I would have hated to miss it.
Bravo. Nice write
We also have a Monserrat here in Trinidad i visited in those days when i sang with our the church choir (St Mary’ s RC church in St James where i live)
Nestled in the hills of Monserrat, in Central Trinidad, amidst a constant twittering of birds, is the beautiful little church of Our Lady of Monserrat; MORE HERE
Much💛love
Thanks Gillena. Cool, the Trinidad Montserrat is named after the Barcelona one. There is also the island nation of Montserrat (about 500 miles north of Trinidad), which was named after the Virgin of Montserrat in the Monastery of Montserrat, on Montserrat mountain, near Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. She is also known as the Black Madonna. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_of_Montserrat
Simply stunning, Ron – photo and poem both.
<3
David
Thanks David.
Sounds like a wonderful place… I once spent a couple of weeks in a monastery turned scientific conference center on a mountain in Sicily. I do remember the clouds.
Guardians–who would notice the clouds? As other have noticed, the repetition is very effective. (K)
Pingback: 42 Days On The Iberian Peninsula - Navigating This Thing We Call Life
Lovely poem and place 🙂