Looking Back

I stood atop the mountains overlooking the hills and hollows as far as my eyes could see. A Celtic song came to mind. Uillean pipes played in my head. I sensed I had been here before. Right here, or somewhere eerily similar. I stood and gazed over the landscape, amazed at its' beauty. Enjoying the colors, scents, sounds and feelings as I let my mind wander. Closing my eyes I felt at peace with all around me. A piece of heaven right here on earth. I opened my eyes and began to have a different vision. A coal mine in the distance formed a black and gray pock mark in the far off valley. A strip mine in the hill to my right looked as if a giant had taken a bite out of the mountain. Men busy in their trucks driving along the roads below going about their business like tiny ants. Old logging roads winding up and down the surrounding hills leaving timbers strewn about like pick up sticks that had just been dropped out of the sky. Iron colored water runoffs from production of the states number one resource and this countries number one favorite fossil fuel. I began too look around me and saw evidence of wildlife amongst all the hustle and bustle of mining and timbering. The animals, apparently, do not seem to mind. Cows lick the gob piled up outside the mine absorbing minerals. Deer droppings dot the ground along the trail meandering up through the thicket. Matted grass areas surround me where white-tailed deer had been laying. Birds flew high above and enjoyed the cloudless blue sky. I closed my eyes again. Looking back I had been here before. A piece of heaven right here on earth.