The "I'm On My Way" fountain started out one evening as a special tribute to the country music and pop crossover queen, Shania Twain, (long before I knew how famous she was). The photo doesn't begin to show all the detail in the feminine figure, but it's there. This detail is all done by hand from the wall of a freshly thrown pot. I was very inspired by her music after first hearing it in October of last year. We share a common background in the reforestation industry, and it does my heart good to see a fellow tree-planter do so well in the world. Somewhere in her music I find all of my friends from years gone by; our fireside music sessions; vehicles tipped over on mountain logging roads when breaks went out; days spent on the mountainsides of my youth. What also began that day in October was a series of poems that fall under the general heading, "Sun Up, And I'm On My Way". You can find all four of these poems, plus some of the other poetry I was inspired to write that winter by clicking on the "Intimate River Poetry" link at the bottom of all the web pages in this section. I'm including an older version, (one of many,)of the first poem of the "Sun Up" series below so that you can get a taste of how I like to combine various aspects of my artistic soul. This fountain, along with it's pedestal, is about 26" tall and sells for 800$, as long as I still have the original. (note original sold Nov 1999, I am willing to recreate this, as well as other of my fountains)

This poem is dedicated to her father, who along with her mom, died when their vehicle collided with a logging truck. It's sister poem, "Anthem For The Earth," is dedicated to her mom. I've survived a few close scares myself, and it is partly why I relate so strongly to her story. Shania is an Indian name that translates to "I'm On My Way," and which, like the name "Lucy Looks Twice," has become a title of some poetry of mine. "Lucy Looks Twice," which I wrote twenty years ago, shows up again, greatly expanded, in the classical favorites section of my online poetry book "Intimate River Sounds." I love these descriptive names. They are so poetic.

SUN UP, AND I'M ON MY WAY

Part 1      Anthem For The Earth    (Gerry's Song)

Sun up, and I’m on my way
Planting a harvest
For another age
8’ by 8’ by 8’ today                                                 (note: read 8 by 8 by 8)

Each step I take
I plant my prayer

As winters pass
Seedling trees
That grow tall here

I whip my hoedad down the line
Crack this soil open wide
Through sacred ground
I  lead the way

Bare roots flung down
Pulled down, straight down
Come alive, be alive
Everywhere

Slip one tree here
Plant a second tree there
Teaching the world
How to care

Look alive Come alive
Canope of
Mother natures hair

Sun up and I’m on my way
Sundown and I’ve planted a forest today

My father was out on the line each dawn
Beating the heat and bringing his song
"I am a Mountain, I am a River              (note: these two lines are to be belted out)
I am a child of     God So Strong
I am this land where I belong"

Each step I take
I stake my prayers
Into sacred ground
Everywhere

"Planting these trees by the specs each day
On Canyon and Mountain I test my blade
Creating a shelter for God and man
To join together, here in hand

Sun up, and I’m on my way
Sun down and I’ve planted a forest today
Sun down and I’ve reclaimed some mud and clay
Sun down and I’ve created a place to pray

Come alive, BE alive
In Mother natures care

sh~shh~shhh~sh~shhsh

Natures sleeping.

I'm out of here

 

Gary Lange ©  1998

 

 

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