I first hiked the trails of Mount Rainier in Washington State in the Summer of 1952.  When you are seventeen you can do just about anything. A member of our group that day was a Native American, a member of the Puyallup Nation.  He told us that the spirits of his forebears reside on top of this beautiful mountain. Further, he said that Mount Rainier provides  “a point of view” from which his ancestors continue to watch over their homeland and protect their loved ones...I believed him!
        I wrote these poems as a sort of legacy document for my children. It also attempts to communicate directly to those people who are nearest and dearest to me. My poetry is sometimes humorous and occasionally serious but it always tries to be honest with respect to my feelings about the subject. The form uses multiple meanings of words and wrapping (last words or phrase of one line linking to the first words or phrase of the following line often in a different context). My work draws upon my observations of the outdoors; some personal experiences; views of societal issues and, of course, lets the reader know in no uncertain terms that everybody is entitled to my opinion!
      The paintings are by my friend of over thirty years, noted Long Island artist Joseph Reboli. Most of the photos are mine but the really good ones are by the incomparable Philip Greenspun or by my friends Chris Murray and Hans Günther Hausen, as attributed. The signature photo of the "Angel Wings Sunset" was taken by my wife, Rosemarie, behind our house in Harleysville.  Many of the unattributed images were found surfing the Net.

Harleysville, Pennsylvania
 
 
 
 

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 ©  Howard B. Eskin 2000