The Squall

[denise ippolito]

We both had our full rain gear on
As we set out that early dawn

We began our way to the peak
The weather started turning bleak

The wind was gusting all around
At times it knocked us to the ground

Boulders of granite lined the path
We took on Mother Nature's Wrath

I never felt so much alive
Wondering if we would survive

The thunder gave us quite a scare
And bolts of light were everywhere

To iron rungs we'd hold on tight
Sometimes it took up most our might

We reached the summit just in time
We tied our bodies to the line

Heading back down the way we came
I knew we'd never be the same

Now safely back on solid ground
We'd celebrate the bond we found

[Grace Scalzo]

Powerful, Denise. Experiences like you write about do change people, you've described it so well. Nice image also.

[denise ippolito]

Grace, Thankyou for your kind words. I appreciate them!!

[Eric Virkler]

Very Nice Denise. Very powerful, very true.

Eric

Faces of Nature Photography

[denise ippolito]

Eric, Thankyou so much for your comments. I appreciate them alot.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

It makes me feel as if I were there on the mountain. First person I thought of was John Krakauer and the movie I saw about his climb earlier this year. Can't remember the title though. But boy, what a story that was.

Your rhymes are very good and the image is fitting, as well as stunning. Where is that place?

[denise ippolito]

Akos, Thankyou. The image is of the Teton mountain peaks.
Jon Krakauer's book -Into Thin Air is my favorite -I read it a few years back, over and over again!!

[Dave Mills]

Hi, I like the pictures you paint with words. The images are a bonus...

[denise ippolito]

Dave, Thankyou so much for your support.

[Lance Warley]

Let me add my voice to the chorus - "Powerful" is definitely the word.

And I really love, "I never felt so much alive Wondering if we would survive"

The photo is awesome. Where is this, Denise? Judging from the poem, I gather you climb with ropes. Wow. I climb too, but not with ropes. Rather, I use the strategic technique known as the *** Crawl.

[denise ippolito]

Lance, This image is of the Teton Mountain Peaks. I don't do technical climbs. I do the most challenging climbs I can w/o gear. Usually iron rungs or pulling myself up thru the cracks. Rock scrambling I enjoy also. Just never made time for technical climbs -but would if I had a partner that liked it.

[Julie Kenward]

(Lance, you crack me up!) :):D:)

Denise, wow. Okay, what I read was great but I have to tell you when I first saw the image I thought heaven had opened up and was falling into the Tetons. Seriously - that image blows me away.

[denise ippolito]

Thankyou so much Julie. I appreciate it. It's nice to have you back!!!

[John Ippolito]

Another fine bit of imagery and poetry, Denise. I used to live for mountaineering and ice climbing, and this piece brings home the bonds forged of sweat and adrenaline. Intuitive and very well done.
In fact I'm just reading David Roberts "The Last of His Kind' a biography of Brad Washburn.

[denise ippolito]

John, Thankyou for your kind words and for the book tip sounds like my kinda read.