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