It’s a wild world out there right now. I don’t know about you guys, but I have found myself longing for somewhere quiet, somewhere green, somewhere peaceful. Since many of us can’t travel just yet, I feel lucky to have my many memories (and photographs) of the beautiful places I’ve been to give me a respite. So, this is a very special post for all of you out there who need something pretty and relaxing!
“Let Me Tell You Where I’ve Been” – Titlis Mountain
Lush grass covered the mountainside
Rain swirled thick in the air
A pure lake where blue and green collide
Cool breezes tussled my hair
An ice cave beckoned, neon blue in tone
Dripping water echoed all around
The frigid air cut me right to the bone
And the tight spaces held me bound
From the summit I could almost see the whole world
Through the blowing, swirling snow
One of the scariest bridges on earth unfurled
I just tried not to look down below
But what charmed me most about Titlis
That heavenly mountain of the Swiss
Was the tinkling, plinking musical bliss
Ringing here and there, hard to miss
Like a happy chorus of bells and chimes
They ring all across the land
They cover the mountains, so sublime
Like their own special kind of band
When I first heard the soothing but strange sound
I looked all around me in wonder
What is that noise that is so profound?
Ringing everywhere, over and under?
It was then that I peered in the valley below
And I saw them scattered in herds
The grazing cattle and their cute little bells
Calling to each other without words
Now when I’m stressed, or sad, or scared
I think of a sound in my head
One that brings me back to a gorgeous mountain lair
Where I had hot soup and delicious bread
A sound that conjures scenes and sights
Like something from a fantasy book
Rainbows of flowers and snow-capped heights
A shining lake, and a stunning overlook
The cowbells of Titlis always chime
And I play them when I’m feeling blue
I listen to them anywhere, anytime
And now I’ll share them with you
Turn the volume way up on that video!
Photos and video by M.B. Henry – for more from Switzerland and Europe, click here
fragglerocking
You are a top notch wordsmith! Lovely to hear the video and read the words together. Sounds like heaven.
MBHenry
Thanks so much! It was like heaven, especially since they had a cheese vending machine in the visitor’s center! That’s right. A cheese vending machine.
Prior...
A chess vending machine? How very cool! And healthy rather than pasties all the time
Dave Astor
Such an evocative poetry post, MB! And quite soothing in this un-soothing time.
MBHenry
All we need is more cowbell. Well, not all we need, but you know haha.
Dave Astor
LOL! 🙂
Jet Eliot
Thanks so much, M.B., for taking us up to this magical Swiss Alp and showing us the beauty of this mountain so very close to the clouds. The cowbells are a special treat, very special.
MBHenry
🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed it – the cowbells were pretty neat I’m so glad to this day I took video of it.
Jeff Zablow
I much enjoyed imagining being there on Titlis Mountain, even believed that my heights-thing would have not reappeared. Now I have the cowbells tingling in my ears, ever so gently. I wanted to ‘Like’ but tried as I would. I was unable to. Know then that I ‘Liked’ the experience, again, much.
MBHenry
🙂 So glad you enjoyed it, that’s all that matters! I actually have a bit of vertigo, but even on that terrifying bridge (which makes almost all versions of the world’s scariest bridges lists I’ve seen), my fears stayed at bay. I think the gorgeous scenery proved the best medicine!
Lee Austin
Not only do you write entrancing prose but beautiful poetry!
MBHenry
Thanks so much Lee! <3 That always means a lot coming from you!
Sarah Angleton
Beautiful!
MBHenry
Thanks so much!
Eilene Lyon
Really evoked the scene and engaged all the senses (even the vertigo one)! Loved the cowbell video. The Swiss Alps are so amazing.
MBHenry
I definitely got a bit of vertigo on the bridge at the mountain’s summit, but the beautiful scenery helped keep my feet going across! 🙂
calmkate
what a very pleasant distant tinkle … so soothing and love your poem! It’s important to have a memory of something that reminds us of peace and calm and that view on your video is so spacious MB, well done
MBHenry
It was like something out of a fantasy book or movie up there -really can’t even take credit for how the video turned out, it’s hard to get bad video in a place like that haha! So glad you liked it and found it soothing 🙂
calmkate
you captured the atmosphere perfectly, but my favourite must be monks chanting 😉
MBHenry
I bet that is quite heavenly 🙂 🙂 🙂
calmkate
very and soothes the savage beast! I used to live in a little hut next door to bull breeders and when their stock started snorting and pawing the ground itching for a fight with the huge breeding bull in the opposite field with all the cows
… only chanting monks could calm them 🙂
tanjabrittonwriter
Lovely words, photos, video, and imagery, M.B. These lines were definitely more comforting than your heartbreaking wartime poetry.
MBHenry
Yes, I have lots more in that wartime series but I haven’t had the heart to post it lately. So I’ve been rhyming about travels I’ve really enjoyed for now 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it.
derrickjknight
A beautiful poem engaging all senses – and thanks for the volume tip
derrickjknight
A beautiful poem engaging all the senses – and thanks for the volume tip
MBHenry
Glad you enjoyed it! Since we were pretty close to the top of the mountain when that video was taken, the bells were a little harder to hear than when we were down below 🙂
derrickjknight
🙂
rajkkhoja
Good poem. Why need to more Cow bell.
rajkkhoja
Nice poem. Why need .more cowbell.
Ancient Skies
Really wonderful.
MBHenry
Thank you!
Curt Mekemson
Beautiful, M. I was right there with you. We often hear cowbells when we are hiking up in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the summer. And they are musical. Most cows in a particular herd, at least in the Sierra’s, have different bells and the cowboys know which bell belongs to which cow. –Curt
MBHenry
I really need to explore more of the Sierra Nevadas 🙂 Something tells me I would enjoy it immensely, especially the cow bells! Glad you enjoyed the post Curt 🙂
pam@ichoosethis
I love this MB! And the sounds of the cowbell are pretty delicious right? Everyone needs MORE COWBELL. 🙂 I wanted to buy an authentic Swiss cowbell when we were there, but could not find a good one. They are so big and really expensive, but also really beautiful.
MBHenry
I wanted a cowbell too! But I didn’t have much time to look for one on that particular trip, so we settled for a cowbell magnet which rings pleasantly whenever we open the fridge 🙂
pam@ichoosethis
The magnet is a great plan B 😊😊
Keith
“Quiet”, “green”, “peaceful”…those things sound soooo incredibly comforting right now. But it’s such a hectic time right now. Sigh…
MBHenry
Right??? What I wouldn’t give to go back to that mountain! Hope you and yours are at least staying safe and well, even if we can’t be quite sane right now!
Faye Arcand
You have a melodic tone to your writing that brings the reader right there. So beautiful.
MBHenry
Thanks so much – I’m so glad you liked it! 🙂
Grammy Writes
Lovely – I was peering into the valley right along with you! More cowbells please!!
MBHenry
Always more cowbell! 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it
Graham Stephen
Impressive landscape!
✨☀️🙏🕉️♾️☮️🙏☀️✨
MBHenry
It was pretty hard to get ugly pictures up there, that’s for sure! 🙂
ztevetevans
Most enjoyable poem, thank your!
MBHenry
You’re most welcome! Glad you liked it
Steve Schwartzman
Happy Switzerland to you. Last year we were seriously thinking of going there in 2020, but you know what got in the way.
MBHenry
Uuugh – same with us for Croatia 🙁 Maybe next year! Glad I could show you a slice of it anyhow!
positivesideofcoin
Beautiful ❤️.
MBHenry
Thank you!
travtrails
Beautiful, descriptive presentation
MBHenry
Thanks so much 🙂
thetragedykween
It is a mesmerizing site and a lovely poem too!
MBHenry
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it
bushboy
Thanks for sharing 🙂 Love the words and bells
MBHenry
So glad you enjoyed them both! 🙂
shoreacres
Your poem is lovely and soothing, although I confess to being greatly amused by how deeply the call for “more cowbell!” has penetrated our culture. There’s something about bells of any sort that I love; they have the same ability as windchimes to soothe away cares.
Have you come across the Scandinavian practice of kulning — calling the cattle home by voice? Here’s a video that includes kulning and cowbells. The Wikipedia entry on kulning has some interesting details on the practice, which seems to go back centuries.
MBHenry
Hahaha gotta love that more cow bell reference, I’m always surprised how often I still hear it! 🙂 I am not familiar with Kulning, sounds absolutely amazing though, thanks so much for sharing that video!
Silver Screenings
Ahh… Beautiful and refreshing. Thank you for sharing this. 🙂
MBHenry
🙂 So glad you enjoyed it!
-Eugenia
Beautifully written post! Thank you for sharing!
MBHenry
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
poeticallyyours360
Most impressive with words and beautiful in sight. I have experienced your experience. thank you
MBHenry
Glad you enjoyed it!
Leyla
Stunning!
MBHenry
Thanks so much! 🙂
K.L. Hale
What beautiful and perfect words. The video gave it life! Oh how I long to go to Switzerland. I could feel an inkling of peace just in this clip. You’re a gifted writer. Blessings! 💚
MBHenry
Thank you, that means a lot! I’m so glad I could bring a piece of Switzerland to you. If you make it there someday, you will love it <3
K.L. Hale
You’re so welcome! I hope I do make it there! 💚💙
K.L. Hale
You are so welcome! 💚
Elizabeth
This is lovely! I felt as I was hiking on that mountain right now.
MBHenry
Yay! I’m so glad! 🙂
chattykerry
That was really beautiful, MB. I have always wanted to visit Switzerland – it makes me think of Heidi!
MBHenry
Heidi!! I loved that book/movie growing up 🙂 🙂
chattykerry
I always wanted a straw bed in an attic…
Island Traveler
Beautiful, moving, exhilarating. Thank you. Happy weekend.
MBHenry
So glad you liked it
Prior...
Wow – your words and photo (and video snippet) were a little escape today
MBHenry
Yay! I’m so glad – I know we all need that during these troubling times
Prior...
😊🌸🌸🌸
Athira
Wonderful lines
MBHenry
Thanks!
Athira
Most welcome