the climb

He glances up at the mountain
His head sinks as he pushes on
Every step a battle
Every step a fight, an effort
Up and up because
He's scared to stop

The rocks and shrubs
Serve as his walking sticks
As he pulls himself
And pushes himself
His mind is empty
His heart is racing

The men in front seem inevitable
His breath is loud in his ears
As he fights to keep up
His heart is thumping
And his head ringing
Every step a battle

His pack is heavy
And pulling him back
His fight grows harder
Gravity is a mighty foe
He needs to stop
He wants to shout out

And as he reaches for a tree
He misses

Shock, realization, and horror
Bring his mind sharply into focus
His mind has never moved faster
Faster even than the fall
So that when he stops
He is calm

Thanks for reading!