Tai Shan

by Bob Charlick

Taishan rises like human desire.

What could men want in scaling those endless steps?

Rain falls on its green pines.

Plastic robed like fresh wrapped monks,

the pilgrim/tourists test their mettle

against this ageless stele

Wisdom abounds with each step up,

the rocks bear witness to our need to know

and leave our mark.

Taishan's call is bigger still.

We climb to defy entropy.

Health, riches and peace all counter

nature's slow erosion.

Don't ask the mountain, then, for peace

it stand aloof

offering nothing but the foil and stage

upon which we can play our piece of visions and dreams.