From The Unbroken Diamond

This is the mountain,
Fire Mountain*,
whose summit circles the earth,
invisible to the eye where you are
except as a tint at sunset,
grit between your teeth and the teeth
of your wives and sons and daughters,
the teeth of your enemies--
this trace of Godhead inconspicuously everywhere.

William Pitt Root

*Traditional Native American name for Mt. St. Helen's
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Mt. Jiri, one of the most sacred mountains in Korea, was Korea's first national park, established in 1967. Bordering three providences in the southern region, Mt. Jiri is known as the Mountain of the Nation and Mother Nature Mountain. The main mountain range of Korea starts from Mt. Paekdu which borders China and North Korea and ends at Mt. Jiri in the south. Mt. Jiri National Park consists of many high peaks. Chun-wang-bong is 1,915M high, the highest on the mainland of South Korea, second only to Mt. Halla on Jeju Island. Poets and friends participating in "Poetry On The Peaks" will climb Chun-hwang-bong in autumn when the leaves begin to turn. Mt. Mani, 468m, on Kangwa Island, is the highest mountain in the Incheon area of South Korea. It was on Mt. Mani that the mythical father of the Korean people, Tangun, is said to have worshipped at the summit praying for the welfare of the nation. The Chamseongdan Altar, where Tangun worshipped, is there today. Every year, holy fire from the sun is taken from Chamseongdan Altar and relayed to a runner so it can be the flame of national events. Mt. Mani is an easy climb. Poets and friends of "Poetry On the Peaks will climb Mt. Mani in the spring. In Korean culture, a balance of male and female energies is very important. So it is, after talking with interested Korean friends and associates, that Mt. Jiri, "Mother of the Nati on" and Mt. Mani, the place where the "Father of the Nation" prayed, were chosen to represent the Korean people.

The readings at Mt. Jiri and Mt. Mani was coordinated by Rayn Roberts and occured on May 18th, 2002.

Poets from Seoul and Pusan, Korea's two largest cities and Jinju City met in Seoul on May 18th 2002 to enjoy the first climb and reading on Mt. Mani. It was a fantastic, clear, unclouded, deep blue day with cool weather, so all enjoyed the hike. There was poetry on the mountain and some was even read before the summit. It was a fine day especially for those who had never been so high! We were honored to have the British poet, Colin Cavendish Jones, lovely Dinah Brown from the U.S.A., the wild and crazy Mad Mike Bradie, also from the U.S. , and last, but never least, the ever-determined Sue Oser. Sue infinitely prefers level ground to mountains and at several points cried, "Is this what I have to do to get published, forget it!"… Nevertheless she would not give up the hike even when it began to hurt. I was inspired by her courage and spirit. While Mike entertained the trees and magpies by hanging upside down from limbs, hooting into the valley, Dinah's ever-present smile was only hidden when she snapped photos of pinecones or pinnacles. I was alone when a Korean viper decided to cross the path before me. I was very polite, just stood there and talked to it. It looked rather bored as it slipped into the undergrowth. There were others with us who do not write, but enjoyed the hike and fun. The group was 7 in all and all had a good time. I hope you enjoy the poems and writing that the poets contributed, I know I have. Our next trip will be the killer hike up Mt. Jiri, Korea's second highest mountain. Since we began, four other poets have joined the group. It should be a wonderful, colorful autumn climb in late September or early October. -- Rayn Roberts

Poems Also Being Read

The Great Wall by Kim So-wol / I Wish To Live As A Nameless Woman by No, Chun-myung

William Pitt Root is the author of Trace Elements from a Recurring Kingdom: The First Five Books, Faultdancing, Reasons for Going It on Foot and Striking the Dark Air for Music. He teached at Hunter College.