RENOVATED MOUNTAIN TOWER

go out on 374 and follow some other
roads towards the back side of chazy
then you'll come to the trail head

climb up that trail, it's steep and some
spots you might lose it but work your
way up because it'll be worth it soon

so you get up to the clearing where
the renovated fire tower points to
heaven and you look at all the steps

after a rest climb the steps and follow
all those rules and instructions and take
your time because you're not a kid anymore

finally up in the tower with your eyes
pressed into your binoculars you look
around and the clear hard blue sky gleams

up north there is montreal, a patch of
smog and a flat topped mountain showing
you where millions of people crouch in their lives

and east is champlain, blue reflecting
blue and green in between stretching like
patched carpet old and friendly and warm

but now look down and the mountain town
sits quiet and the dead sand hill like an
apostrophe marks where the old mine was

the town is not dead but it lives well
beyond its thriving past of train cars and
humming machinery and dirty miners

this renovated mountain tower lets us
see all around and it may be a sign of the
time to come but it can't show us the past

to see the past climb down the tower
climb down the mountain and go to the
churches and the graveyards you'll see it

sit in the legion home talk to the old men
go to the old train station talk to the old
widow ladies they'll show you the good and bad

you'll hear the past and some hope for
tomorrow, you'll learn some history and
tales of those gone on their many ways

but the mountain tower newly painted
and safe again will bring you to a high place
and is worth the climb and effort