I like it! I'm not familiar with the terza riza form, but it goes well with your poem.
The Lolo Trail is the longest undeveloped section of the entire Lewis and Clark route. If you decide to drive it, take a small vehicle like a jeep or pickup. Most of the road, which was built in the 1930s, is single track. If you meet somebody, one of you has to back up to a place to pass.
Lewis and Clark were nearly defeated by this section of the trail. lewis-clark.org
Your poem might fall right into place on the Lolo Trail. The Nez Perce Tribe, 700 of them, including about 300 warriors, and 2000 horses, made a run over the Buffalo Road to try to escape into Canada. They were pursued by the one armed General O.O. Howard. There were battles at either end of the trail, but Howard was unable to catch up to them on the trail itself.
Here's what Joseph said in his surrender, up in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana:
"Tell General Howard I know his heart. What he told me before -- I have it in my heart. I am tired of fighting. Too-hul-hul-sit is dead. Looking Glass is dead. He-who-led-the-young-men-in-battle is dead. The chiefs are all dead. It is the young men now who say 'yes' or 'no.' My little daughter has run away upon the prairie. I do not know where to find her-perhaps I shall find her too among the dead. It is cold and we have no fire; no blankets. Our little children are crying for food but we have none to give. Hear me, my chiefs. From where the sun now stands, Joseph will fight no more forever." |
