Mission Peak

A childhood memory

Shroud of Mission Peak A distant stalwart seen across my childhood city Reminds me I am home //My home// My school home Third grade, Geography lesson Curved hills/jagged sharp mountains Mrs. Hall what about Mission Peak Another lesson: Earthquakes //Another lesson Earthquakes// Earthquakes here years ago Decades centuries ages Earth’s shaking caused land to slide Forming Mission Peak //Mission Peak land I love// Lake I love, Lake Elizabeth A prominent vista, beyond hills of my youth Mission Peak Seen from paddle boat Like a light house standing guard //Standing guard// Dad standing guard, over our toddler girl At edge of lake feeding ducks/ train sighted by my little ones Running across green expanse Greeting slow moving train Background gaze of Mission Peak //Gazing towards Mission Peak// Gazing upon Mission Peak Covered by occasional snow Feel chill of infrequent dusting 

In schoolyard where I once scraped my knee My daughters share same view Of stalwart snowy pointed peak Now one of their own,

A childhood memory