Literary way of describing a city and mountains

[alpacinou]

Imagine a city is at the foot of a massive mountain range. You want to describe the position of the city with relation to the mountains. You can say this:

The city is at the foot of the X mountains.

I want a poetic and literary way of describing this city and its position with respect to the mountains.

 

[GoesStation]

I've recently returned from a couple of weeks in the mountain West of the United States. I spent a week near Denver, Colorado, a city is nestled at the base of the mountains. Then I spent four days in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a city embraced by the surrounding mountains.

 

[tedmc]

The city is nestled at the foot of X mountains.

We can't do the imagining for you without more information.

 

[Rover_KE]

learner7, please read this extract from the forum's Posting Guidelines:

You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language. If you are not a teacher, you will need to state that clearly in your post. Please note, all posts are moderated by our in-house language experts, so make sure your suggestions, help, and advice provide the kind of information an international language teacher would offer. If not, and your posts do not contribute to the topic in a positive way, they will be subject to deletion.

 

[Rover_KE]

I also deleted your post because it was off-topic (it did not contribute to the topic in a positive way).

 

[alpacinou]

This is the city I seek to describe:

https://media.nature.com/w800/magazine-assets/d41586-018-07580-x/d41586-018-07580-x_16300882.jpg

It's not surrounded by mountains. The mountains are just on the northern part of the city.

 

[Tarheel]

This is the city I seek to describe:

https://media.nature.com/w800/magazine-assets/d41586-018-07580-x/d41586-018-07580-x_16300882.jpg

It's not surrounded by mountains. The mountains are just on the northern part of the city.

Great view! What mountains are those?

 

[GoesStation]

This is the city I seek to describe:

https://media.nature.com/w800/magazine-assets/d41586-018-07580-x/d41586-018-07580-x_16300882.jpg

It's not surrounded by mountains. The mountains are just on the northern part of the city.

Beautiful. That city's geographical situation is similar to Denver's: it's on a plain that's rising to the foothills of a steep mountain range. Navigating in such places is easy (when the clouds are high enough, which they usually are in Denver); it just takes a glance to orient yourself.

 

[alpacinou]

Great view! What mountains are those?

That is the Elborz mountain range.

 

[learner7]

I also deleted your post because it was off-topic (it did not contribute to the topic in a positive way).

Okay. I have noted this point as well.

 

[alpacinou]

I really like the suggestions so far.

Are there other poetic ways that folks can suggest?

 

[jutfrank]

Well, you could try using a simile.

I don't want to actually write one for you, but I'm thinking something like Tehran lies [blah] at the foot of the Elborz like a [blah blah blah ...]

 

[alpacinou]

Well, you could try using a simile.

I don't want to actually write one for you, but I'm thinking something like Tehran lies [blah] at the foot of the Elborz like a [blah blah blah ...]

Thanks. Why not give me an example?

 

[jutfrank]

Because I don't know what you're trying to say.

 

[alpacinou]

Because I don't know what you're trying to say.

The position of the city versus the mountains.

Any example will do sir.

 

[jutfrank]

You simply want to describe the position of the city relative to the mountains? That's not very poetic or literary, is it?

Tehran stands sprawled at the foot of the Elborz mountain chain like a suckling newly born giraffe at its mother's teat.

(Look, it's late—that's the best I can do right now!)

 

[alpacinou]

You simply want to describe the position of the city relative to the mountains? That's not very poetic or literary, is it?

Tehran stands sprawled at the foot of the Elborz mountain chain like a suckling newly born giraffe at its mother's teat.

(Look, it's late—that's the best I can do right now!)

I am not sure if giraffe nipple is as poetic as I am opting for:-D

 

[alpacinou]

But I really like the first part:

Tehran stands sprawled at the foot of the Elborz mountain chain like.....

 

[jutfrank]

I am not sure if giraffe nipple is as poetic as I am opting for:-D

It also works with antelope/camel/donkey. Basically, choose any kind of nipple you like. :-D

(You're welcome.)

 

[alpacinou]

It also works with antelope/camel/donkey. Basically, choose any kind of nipple you like. :-D

(You're welcome.)

:-D

Now that you are as sleepy as last night, could you maybe complete this sentence? :

Tehran stands sprawled at the foot of the Elborz mountain chain like.....