the forever mountain

there is the forever mountain;
where cold men backward in heart
camp out in lamb skin tents
and conjure wild flame
in the name of past wives
slaughtered

and horses whimper smoke
out from their nostrils -
too scrawny for the ascent

and glory seekers on mount
are daunted by the gnarled
risings of millennial stone;
where deep within
the bones of odd things
that came to conquer
became conquered

and wizened folk
spend their final days upon high
calculating the clouds
for the monstrous faces and truths
contained continue to elude
peasant systems

and stagnant well waters
offer false reflections
and sour paradise
to the valley dogs

and caves hoarding
rusted barrels of devil-liquor
are shrouded by bluebells
in dark blossom

and pale minors
play the tyre
on dead mans
tree