The sleeping land awakens
as a trembling underneath pulls rocks
apart and opens up
a space for the emergence
of a formation destined to mark its place
on Earth. Needle, spire,
fire wrapped in shadow, compass for a soul
to find its way toward the sun
and in the seconds
before stillness preserves it for the ages there
is disruption to order, a subterranean
roar, mystery putting on
its eternal disguise.
Such pain the land endures to bring
a sacred form to light.
.
David Chorlton