Our Beloved Old Man of the Mountains
In these Mountains, and in our hearts...
you will live forever.
Discovered 1805—Collapsed May 3, 2003.
THE OLD MAN SPEAKS
For over 10,000 long years I looked down upon the beauty of New Hampshire,
The place I call home.
Carved from the ancient glaciers, I held stories within me from times long past.
I may have looked the same from a distance
But if you looked close you would see the weathered lines that the wind, rain, ice and snow continued to chisel
Into this Old Man's face.
This ever changing New England weather continued to constantly re-create me
As it does those who I looked down upon.
We were building character together and my love for you grew.
Expressions of wonder, excitement, and love were the joys I loved to look down upon.
Thousands of you flocking to enjoy the beauty of this notch
That is why I was created
To draw you to love the beauty of these White Mountains.
Some of you even climbed up to take a closer look.
You touched my face.
The warmth of your flesh and blood against my cold granite skin moved me as much as it did you.
Some of you hung seemingly trapped for hours because I did not want to leave your embrace so soon.
Yet, for everything there is a season,
And in the early spring of 2003 my time to look down upon you from this peak was over.
As quietly as I could this Old Man came down from his lofty perch.
It was not because I wanted to leave you.
You cared for me, restored me, and I am eternally grateful, but I was not meant to sit here forever.
It was time to return to the earth from where I began
It was time to be free.
Do not cry tears of sadness for me, only tears of joy.
For I am not gone from this hallowed place; my spirit remains.
I walk with you now.
It is time for you to look upon this state as I once did and care for each other the way you cared for me.
It is you who make up New Hampshire not me.
The torch has now been passed
You must be the guardians of each other now.
The rocks, the trees, the water, the wind, rain and snow
All carry my life force through these mountains.
This Old Man has not left you but changed.
I move freely now.
No longer do I simply sit here looking down upon you
But now I soar and sing and embrace each one of you.
So continue to come to this hallowed place.
Feel my spirit and care for this earth as you cared for me.
Protect it, nurture it, and feel restored as you walk among this beauty.
Gaze up on a clear and sunny day and you will see me.
Look into each other's eyes; you will find me there.
I have not died
I am here still
Only now I live
Free.
Edwina Landry, Concord, NH, May 6, 2003
