Abstract
"Ash Mountain" is an ekphrastic poem that details the iconic World War II photograph of the Marines raising the American flag on Iwo Jima. Told through the eyes of a veteran reflecting on sacrifice, unity, and legacy. The poem transforms the still image into a living meditation on resilience. The moment captures six Marines, indistinguishable as individuals, collectively enduring a hard-fought battle. Their motion becomes both literal and symbolic, depicting the struggle to lift not only the flag but also the weight of war, memory, and national identity.
Bio
The author is a veteran of the United States Air Force that, like many others, decided to pursue further education using the benefits afforded by their service in the GI Bill.
Recommended Citation
Patterson, Nicholas
(2025)
"Ash Mountain an Ekphrastic Poem by Nicholas Patterson,"
Night Flight: Online Literary Journal: Vol. 6
, Article 30.
Available at:
https://commons.erau.edu/night-flight/vol6/iss1/30