Granite Glory

I have scaled a massive granite wall
My fingers are tender, numb and bleeding
My toes ache and feet cramp from gripping cracks
My calves are rock hard from recent efforts
holding and pushing my weight upward

I take a breath
Filling my lungs with cool autumn air
A soft breeze dries the sweat on chilled brow
I can see forever from my position on this rock.

I sit
Weak kneed from the exertion of my climb
A full giddy joy swells my chest
My heart pumps steady and strong

I yearn to speak
I am by myself
I share my moment of glory with wind, rock and sky
In my victory I weep.

I am happy
I am so full of this good feeling
I am alone
I whisper her name and turn the ring on my finger.

My heart constricts
Somehow I've lost a bit of my personal glory
The edge of my success is dulled
I sit and contemplate this personal weakening.

Gazing down from this perch
I admit she has no place here
Tight sadness grips my throat
I remove the ring she gave me

I know it is time to let go

Tenderly I kiss the ring and I say good bye
But the thing I cannot toss away.
So I place it in a safe pocket
Later the big cats will guard it and keep it safe.

I weep in mornful silence
And though I cannot throw away the ring
I know I have let go
And said good bye to that dream.

A cool breeze dries the tears on my cheeks.
I stand and stretch stiffening muscles
I take a deep breath
I am ready to let her go

A peace comes flooding over me
I stand confident on a granite rock
From this perch to where I have climbed
I can see my future before me

Standing here I can see forever.

Originally written: 11 October 1990
Revised: 17 July 2001

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