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"Alum Rock Canyon," [San Jose, CA], by Carrie Stevens Walter (1895)

Author: Carrie Stevens Walter

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Alum Rock from Chris Donegan on Vimeo.

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Once, long ago, when Nature’s hand
––Was busy at formation,
She found a box of chaos scraps,
––The loveliest of creation.

And so, in sweet caprice––who knows––?
––To please some dear companion,
She took the store of beauty-scraps
––And made this matchless canyon.

The wildest, sweetest, fairest things
––Are here in glen and torrent,
You’ll vow there never was a place
––Like Alum Rock, I warrant.

The quaint madrone, the laurel trees,
––And countless shrubs that cover
The mountain sides ; the soft, warm air,
––The blue sky bending over,

Make it a spot––when weary worn––
––You seek with loved companion,
And find the gods of rest and peace
––Dwell in this matchless canyon.

1895.

DMU Timestamp: November 09, 2018 23:10

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Apr 29

ETHAN P ETHAN P (Apr 29 2019 11:37AM) : The last two lines of the first stanza contradict each other as a box of chaos scraps are called the loveliest of creation.

May 16

Julissa Julissa (May 16 2019 1:53PM) : I agree [Edited]

Apr 25

cristin t cristin t (Apr 25 2020 12:02AM) : you right.

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Apr 29

Kalina T Kalina T (Apr 29 2019 11:35AM) : what is a chaos scraps?

Apr 29

ETHAN P ETHAN P (Apr 29 2019 11:39AM) : chaos scraps could be a once destructive force

Feb 16

Kiran C Kiran C (Feb 16 2021 4:01PM) : Cool idea. I love that! "A once-destructive force"... more

Or it could be a box of quilting scraps — scraps of cloth used to make quilts. Click here for picture of the “Chaos Scrap” quilt pattern: http://www.shinyhappyworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/controlled-chaos-finished-1000-px-no-logo.jpg

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Nov 14

Sarah H Sarah H (Nov 14 2021 6:50PM) : A statement that even chaos can be lovely?

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May 15

Kalina T Kalina T (May 15 2019 1:51PM) : Is he saying that maybe its not so sweet after all?

Feb 16

Kiran C Kiran C (Feb 16 2021 4:04PM) : Caprice more

“Caprice” is a sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated action

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Feb 8

EMMANUEL R EMMANUEL R (Feb 08 2021 9:53PM) : paradox more

I’m not sure what they mean by “to please some dear companion” my guess could be the view pleases people.

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Apr 29

Kalina T Kalina T (Apr 29 2019 11:50AM) : by matchless it means no other canyon can compete with this one [Edited] more

maybe this canyon, even ion its not the biggest, or most famous canyon, holds sentimental value to the writer, and in that sense, no other canyon can compete in his mind.

May 15

ETHAN P ETHAN P (May 15 2019 1:51PM) : But we don't really get a straight answer whether they mean matchless canyon in a good way or a bad way

May 17

Kalina T Kalina T (May 17 2019 11:15AM) : TRUE

May 17

Kalina T Kalina T (May 17 2019 11:15AM) : I never thought of that [Edited]

Feb 8

EMMANUEL R EMMANUEL R (Feb 08 2021 5:30PM) : good way more

I feel like describing this canyon as “matchless” is meant in a good way. the reason for this is many people feel like nothing could be compared to this amazing view/moment

Nov 13

Jenny S Jenny S (Nov 13 2021 11:55AM) : I agree! I feel like she is saying it is unmatched in beauty.

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May 15

ETHAN P ETHAN P (May 15 2019 1:44PM) : The poet contradicts himself when he calls Alum Rock a place of glen and torrent, warning people that they'd wish there never was such a place when the rest of the poem talks about how beautiful it is.

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May 15

Kalina T Kalina T (May 15 2019 1:47PM) : what does the author mean by this? [Edited]

Feb 16

Kiran C Kiran C (Feb 16 2021 4:15PM) : "Torrent" here means a mountain stream. more

http://www.freemages.com/browse/photo-490-torrent.html

Feb 16

Kiran C Kiran C (Feb 16 2021 4:17PM) : A "glen" is a deep valley. more

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore-share.imgix.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2Faenoch-eagach.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.explore-share.com%2Ftrip%2Fguided-traverse-aonach-eagach-glencoe%2F&tbnid=1R33-uCRa5Go5M&vet=10CAMQxiAoAGoXChMIqLbzkqjv7gIVAAAAAB0AAAAAECk..i&docid=NC-F0X57v7RxMM&w=640&h=480&itg=1&q=glen%20meaning&safe=strict&ved=0CAMQxiAoAGoXChMIqLbzkqjv7gIVAAAAAB0AAAAAECk

Nov 13

Jenny S Jenny S (Nov 13 2021 12:00PM) : Alum Rock Park is in Silicon Valley, hence the glen or narrow valley and contains a creek which is the torrent the author is referring to.

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Feb 16

Kiran C Kiran C (Feb 16 2021 4:07PM) : What is a madron tree? [Edited] more

https://www.google.com/search?q=madrone&safe=strict&sxsrf=ALeKk00sCn8sGbes-qyqWtSKRkCdOQBhOg:1613509630988&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwit2JXjp-_uAhVNElkFHUYNCp8Q_AUoAXoECBUQAw&biw=1302&bih=694

Feb 16

Kiran C Kiran C (Feb 16 2021 4:21PM) : Laurel looks like this: more

https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/mountain-laurel-kalmia-latifolia-ery-largay-flickr-1466×1100.jpg

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Feb 8

EMMANUEL R EMMANUEL R (Feb 08 2021 7:35PM) : the view more

describing how beautiful the view is. you could even feel it when you think about it.

Feb 8

EMMANUEL R EMMANUEL R (Feb 08 2021 9:32PM) : sound more

the “warm air” described in this poem helped me to remember times when i was in peace/ felt relaxed.

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Apr 29

Kalina T Kalina T (Apr 29 2019 11:40AM) : The sky bends for the mountains

May 2

ETHAN P ETHAN P (May 02 2019 1:35PM) : what about it?

May 13

Kalina T Kalina T (May 13 2019 11:59AM) : the sky bends for the mountains [Edited] more

I feel like usually, the sky doesn’t bend for anything, that it is always there in the background, and the mountains are placed over it, not actually affecting the sky at all, so the author of this poem must think really highly of these mountains, if he thinks the sky bends out of its way to make room for them. The author also could’ve said this to show us the grandeur of the mountains.

Apr 25

cristin t cristin t (Apr 25 2020 12:03AM) : true

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May 15

Kalina T Kalina T (May 15 2019 1:49PM) : who are the gods of rest and peace?

Feb 8

EMMANUEL R EMMANUEL R (Feb 08 2021 9:58PM) : amazing more

this sentence really made me rethink all the small things and all the beautiful things surrounding us that we take for granted, and we really don’t be paying no mind but this world was made with a lot of care from mother nature itself.

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Apr 29

Kalina T Kalina T (Apr 29 2019 11:38AM) : I wonder how alum rock has changed since then

May 1

ETHAN P ETHAN P (May 01 2019 2:13PM) : FACTS

Nov 13

Jenny S Jenny S (Nov 13 2021 12:03PM) : It is actually still open to the public and is a beautiful place to hike! I never saw it in 1895, but I feel like much of it remains the same. It is a beautiful place to explore. more

https://www.sanjoseca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/2088/2002

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Nov 13

Jenny S Jenny S (Nov 13 2021 12:06PM) : I loved this poem! [Edited] more

I have been to this park before and the author does a great job helping visualize the beauty and tranquility of Alum Rock Park. Personification alongside her descriptions help paint the image of the parks unmatched beauty. This poem brought me back to exploring the park with my family growing up.

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