I Left It All for Vistas and Other Poems

by Kristine Amundrud

I LEFT IT ALL FOR VISTAS

A forest gone up in flames,

no cairn. No blaze of markers

remains. Who am I now

that I am being

changed?

Lost. Lonely. A shadow of 

myself. Stripped down to 

bare extremities.

I left it all for vistas—my body

a boulder. My igneous mind,

my sedimentary soul. Spirit 

in deep decline. Mid 

climb. Muster all the

faith of a seed, then tell me:

Who can hurl this into the sea?

I refuse to be a pillar of salt.

I gained it all for vistas—

left everything for Him—

from a quiet cleft where I hide.

Man of sorrows whispers: Child…

Come, be well-acquainted

with me.

FROM THIS TIME FORTH

I.

On our backs,

on rugged tracks,

we carry with us gardens.

Rucksack of forget-me-not-yet,

friendships of the road and pain.

Longings and songs—passionate prayers,

to be sown again and again.

II.

Now, I drown in the deepest downpour.

It’s a dark and muddy climb. Gully floods. 

Go now. Please, just leave me behind. 

On my knees. Prostrate,

on the edge. Just one 

wrong step—

Don’t we all,

at times,

deliberate?

III.

Shy of the tree line,

light breathes through,

whence rocks all heard me weep.

Heaven’s chorus—

burst into song,

anew.

KRISTINE AMUNDRUD

Kristine Amundrud is a Canadian poet of faith living in Northland, New Zealand. She finds joy in dreaming alongside her husband and their three children. Inspired by nature and the healing power of storytelling, Kristine endeavors to evoke emotions in the reader. She also loves friendships that go beyond the surface.

Connect with her on Substack @kristineamundrud or Instagram @kamundrud.