Poem of the Week / Labor Day
August 29 & September 5, 2005
Tale of Idaho Springs
Now, when you wander forth, my friend,
And mountain beauties seek,
Oh, come with me, by pathway wend
And view each wondrous peak!
We first cross bridge by station near,
Where flows the swift Clear Creek,
Then take the trail ascending here,
Where Nature's voices speak.
Look now on mills and waterfalls,
Majestic mountains there,
Where Idaho to each one calls
To landscapes, rugged, fair.
Behold in yonder sky so bright
The moon that sinks to rest,
A vision fair in morn's clear light,
There fading in the west.
Below is lovely Idaho,
A city fair to see ;
All journey to the Springs, you know,
Rejoicing there to be.
Chief Idaho and tribe here dwelt ;
"White Feather" was his name ;
Through hills he wandered, sickness felt,
To "No-Lah-Go-Ne" came.
Adown the mountainside he strode
To valley far below,
By Hot Springs then made his abode,
To which his tribe did go.
The Indians then, here glad to be,
These springs named Idaho,
The "Gem of the Mountains" that you see,
Thus named so long ago.
We gaze upon the sights so grand,
Where trails lead up above ;
Behold the beauties of the land,
His wondrous work of love !
The mossgrown rocks bestrew our way,
Where autumn leaves now fall ;
With lingering footsteps long we stay
To hear the songbirds call.
The winding path leads near the sky,
All zigzag here and there.
Enjoy the scenery far and nigh,
Beholding sights so rare !
It's picturesque as Switzerland,
Near lakes of deepest blue.
Oh, gorgeous work of His great Hand !
How charming is the view !
You may now hear the robin sing,
There perching in a tree ;
Where bluebird happiness will bring,
Trilling to you and me.
It rumbles there below,
While pinewood breezes, murmuring near
Around you gently blow.
Far up on wooded mountainside
Are mines of silver, gold ;
These prospects are the miner's pride,
Whereof rare tales are told.
The Seaton Mountain you view there,
Then Bellvue, too, behold !
On mountain tops the miners dare
To venture seeking gold.
"Flirtation" you will climb to top ;
On topmost crag you stand ;
Upon the summit you will stop
To view this Wonderland.
And Santa Fe Mount yonder lies
By Soda Creek so near ;
The panorama Ridge seeks skies,
Adds other grandeur here.
The Big Chief Peak of old Squaw Range
Is seen up Soda Creek ;
Squaw Mountain, too, lies there so strange,
With Pappoose so unique.
By Bear Creek tread the well-known trail ;
Of canons you will speak ;
On Soda Hill you never fail
To view each snow-capped peak.
Oh, come to Idaho and know
The joy that mountains bring !
The healing springs good health bestow,
And all glad praises sing.
--Laura S. Duvall
Reprinted from Colorado in Verse & Picture by Laura S. Duvall, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1916-1928. Copyright,1928 by Laura S. Duvall. Published September 1928. Welch-Haffner Printing Company, Printers, Denver, Colorado. Fair use. Vintage Colorado Poetry would welcome hearing from the poet's family.
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