Wild as the Mountains, Free as the Wind

[John Ippolito]

Inspired by my last grizzly encounter of the season, near home on a cool late October morning. Bears here are denned up for hibernation from late October to mid April.

[denise ippolito]

John, I love the image and the title is fantastic. I got a sense of excitement as I read your words. Very nicely done and I look forward to more of your writings.:)

[Lance Warley]

I like every single thing about this.

The words are a joy, the photo is great, and the lowered opacity is great. Even the font is just right.

Do you live inside episodes of Northern Exposure?

I was looking at your Alaska images on your site yet again, John, and I'm sure I'll be back there in the future. Really beautiful.

[Julie Kenward]

Wonderfully descriptive and so powerful! I was sing/songing my way through the entire thing. Only thing I would change is this:

There!... In the creekbed, digging up roots

To this:

There! In the creekbed! Digging up roots

Wonderful!

[Lance Warley]

Good one, Julie.

Small change, big difference.

[John Ippolito]

Denise, Lance, and Julie, thanks for the kind words and critiques-they are much appreciated!

Julie, I agree with Lance. The punctuation of that line was something that I kept coming back to look at, and I think you nailed it. Thanks!:)

[Julie Kenward]

John, I think it also works with there...in the creekbed...digging up roots but the exclamation points really add excitement to the line.

Again...beautiful work. Powerful and exciting to read.

[John Ippolito]

Repost of image with changed type.

[Lance Warley]

This is making want to book a ticket to Eagle River valley in the Spring and, if you're willing, let me tag along when you go out to take shots of the Gizzlies again.

And, while I'm there, maybe some eagles.

You're making want it BAAAAAAAAAADDDLY, John.

[Grace Scalzo]

Fine work, John. I totally enjoyed this...

[John Ippolito]

Grace and Lance thanks for the kind words!

Lance, email sent.

[Cindy Mead]

it's taking me awhile to explore many of the forums here and I'm sure glad I found this one. You convey the anticipation of a truly 'wild' encounter, and your image is so very fitting for your words. A really well written poem John, I enjoyed this very much :)

[John Ippolito]

Hi Cindy, thanks so much for the kind words! It was a long time before I noticed this excellent forum also.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

John this is great! I long to see real bears like this some day in my life. As I read through, one thing kind of kept getting me. It's where you write "Six months of hibernation, without even a snack" I think that replacing hibernation with the word sleep would cut the syllable length enough and those who read will know you mean hibernation when you refer to six months of sleep. It reads tighter with sleep I feel. Thanks for your time. Lovely work mate!

:)