Foothold

The ridge had long hinted

At strong and at weak

Both threatening wall

And welcoming peak

A taunting horizon

For shortening years

One Sun, but two shadows

Equidistant fears

For my life I have watched you

Like my father before

Do I die without knowing?

Or climb to find more?

Compelled to discover

With answers so near

And with thoughts so contorted

By a limbic leer

With the bristling awareness

Of a fate not yet sealed

A decision is reached

That the great peak shall yield

Looking back, I now see

Having long since set off

Though in first breaking trail

Of course, I could not

That the struggle continues

Tearing sinew each step

Sensing one fear replaced

By its twin, in regret

Sensing one fear replaced

By its twin, in regret

Growing nearer, hope holding

Simple foothold a fall

Damaged limb, but not fatal

Just a moment, to stall

Rising up, now mere steps

From the summit, look down

To stare out across that

Which was already found

I am here, at the crest

Where my eyes always fell

Did I leave them for this?

Frozen lips cannot tell

Looking back, I now see

Having long since set off

Though in first breaking trail

Of course, I could not

That my time, and this mountain, and my father before

But a cycle of reaching and striving to claw

Moving higher, hands clasping, eyes looking for more

Not a thing left to find, in all that I saw