Photo by Jerrold
Steep cliffs stretch before man’s eyes
Their faces wrinkled with time
Thick veins run deep
morphing into powerful legs
chiseled and cut from exertion
Once upon a time stone fists and feet
broke the earth’s surface
splintered crust exploded in air
the remains- detritus strewn about-
bear witness to what happened here
A lifetime and world apart
man stands here
listening to their stories,
piecing together the clues
looking upward
he scales the face to its highest heights,
rests upon its rocky shoulders
to catch a glimpse of the distant sights.
he whispers ancient questions into it’s ear
and is rewarded with ancient answers here
the air so clear at these heights
a clean vision of what should be
nothing exists between his thoughts
spacious, open, and free -
As sun sets
Man looks down below
from whence this journey began
he feels the warmth of the campfire, the warm orange glow
casting dancing shadows on his lover, his child, and neighbor
the celebration of life beckons him home
wants him and welcomes him to return
to share his findings
This is where the real journey begins
the most arduous part of the trip
excitement for the new experience warn away
the rocky cliff more difficult in descent
and knowing of the work that awaits him with his new found wisdom.
Slowly, measuring himself up for the challenge
man makes his way
Each shaky step he seeks
to live out the wisdom of the greatest heights
to transfer the thought from mind to action
Step by step on solid footing,
inching closer, feeling his way…
Community awaits his arrival
thirsty for the new found knowledge
and ready to absorb the way
in quiet anticipation
nestled amongst the trees
on soft solid ground
the celebration begins