Granite Land
Lava Land

George Stratton


(from Granite Land)
A VIEW OF CATHEDRAL PEAK
FROM LYELL CANYON

Granite is such a useful word
to describe a rock—
feldspar, mica, quartz, biotite—
­a touch of iron reddens.
Cracks at right angles,
corners round and waste
faster than larger facets—
some law of physics or God.

Returning from McClure Creek
the walk is easy,
the mind slips away,
jumps from meditation
to error to dream.
Willow, azalea, mule’s ears
bloom unseen; dust puffs
drift down wind, disappear.

Rounding the last slow bend
twin towers irrupt into
today’s advancing thunderstorm,
shredding clouds; leap
into my consciousness.
Granite beacon, imperceptibly
sloughing away at right-angle joints,
impermanence established.

(from Lava Land)
CREATION

Red lava flowed on Haleakala
And Pele’s hair streamed wild across the wind.
Kahuna’s knew kapus were cracked; men sinned.
How could they know this mountain’s last hurrah

Would shake the earth and darken skies no more?
That Christ would come? That ships would bring the God
of Western man to teach with cane and rod
the Law? Old Gods were driven from this shore;

Ali’i fell from grace bestowed by powers
beyond young Bingham’s ken, and ours.
New England cloth would cover breast and thigh,
And Eve was good in strictured mind and eye.


poetry
ISBN 1-59661-082-4
36 pages/$9

Granite Land, Lava Land takes you on an inspirational stroll through some of California’s magnificent Sierra, and invites you into personal passionate and sacred spaces. Then, it gently fuses you with Hawai’i’s soul. The author’s writing exemplifies his loving care for detail, and subtly draws you into an enlightened respect for all of nature.
—Suzanne Bruce
Author of Voices Beyond the Canvas
(Instant Publisher)

After reading this book, I can’t shake images of aunties talking story and want the sandalwood to grow again in the secret places. Stratton takes the reader along in a real way. We feel the earth, smell pines, hear thunder. These poems will keep me searching for my Christ mind…my Buddha mind.
—Sandra Lee Stillwell
Author of In a Dress Made of Butterflies
(Poetic Matrix Press)