This life’s journey can seem hard. No–it IS hard! In some ways life is meant to be hard (but not cruel or brutal) because it is through struggle and effort that we learn and grow, that we become better selves. So often I have resisted the upward climb in my life. My legs ache. My lungs burn. I feel fatigued. I just want to rest. And it’s ok to rest when needed, so long as we keep an upward direction. Learning new skills. Solving tough problems. Choosing to forgive. These expand our minds and hearts. These ennoble and redeem. So, focus on that beautiful mountain top, and climb!
TO THE MOUNTAIN
The wind blows cold upon this mountain:
you reach out frigid fingers
to winch me up, to the summit,
but I refuse and split my stupid shin
on an unforgiving stumbling stone.
The air rests thin upon this mountain:
I suck and gasp with each heavy foot fall,
glancing away from your easy smile;
shin blood congeals;
the mucous freezes in my nose.
A smell sits rank upon this mountain,
from so many pissing travelers
and their perennial flotsam of tumbling toilet paper,
jagged aluminum cans, jolly rancher wrappers,
plastic bottles that will last a millennium.
Blue lupine, firecracker penstemon, Indian paintbrush, golden columbine, fireweed, asters,
daisies, monkeyflower, beard tongue, shooting star:
you redeem this mountain,
remind and rebuke;
you sing the beautiful song
to the beat of sheep hoofs
and the chirps of pikas and marmots.
You sing the beautiful song.
(Photo of Mt. Timponogos, Utah, in July, by the author.)
Such a beautiful image, great capture and share, thank you, regards, Barry
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Thank you so much, Barry! Happy holidays to you.
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You write in such a way to evoke an immediate sensation or image. Beautiful job!!!!
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Thank you so much Cathy! I couldn’t hope for more with my writing.
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Your words always make me feel emotional – a sign of a fantastic writer. Or in this case poet! Life is hard but your poem made me feel ready to keep heading upwards.
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Thank you so much for commenting. Your words of support mean a great deal to me. I am so pleased to think that my writing might be an inspiration to people.
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Great imagery and vivid vocabulary, Dad! I like it!
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Thank you son. Hi praise from a great young writer.
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