The Mountain

Straight of back and broad of shoulder,
the young man stared at the mountain
that reached through the clouds
to touch the backside of the sky.
Cliffs of soaring, shuddering heights
and boulders great in mammoth size
littered the climb to the peak.

Gritting his teeth, he started his trek.
Ignoring hands and knees bruised from falls,
he picked himself up time after time
to continue toward the weeping whisps,
that ever seemed beyond his grip.
For through those clouds, his path did lead.

Upon a plateau with stunted trees,
he dropped on sparse grass to rest.
He sipped water from a tumbling brook
before lying on his weary back.
Gazing upward, seeking his goal,
he felt all the aches and pains
that wracked his exhausted soul.

With naught but a greater ordeal ahead,
he turned to glimpse the path behind.
In shock, he wondered how he'd managed
to make his way thus far from the start.
He had traveled many grueling miles
over places surely no man could go.
What helping hand had given aid?

No way to go but up, he thought,
as he mentally donned his invisible mantle
of strength, determination, desire to succeed.
Pushing reminders of racking battering
in the hidden closet of his mind,
he forced himself forward to the top,
slipping, sliding, tumbling again and again.

Finally, his feet found the peak,
where he collapsed to stare in awe
at the lush, green valley spread below.
The peaceful essence rose to tease,
to touch his mind with hope and joy.
His eyes strained to search each spot
of this tempting Shangri-La.

He slowly struggled to his feet,
surprised his body felt so feeble, weak.
His legs wobbled, trembled, and shook
as a few faltering steps he took.
The confused man's eyes widened in shock
at his arms now thin and legs too frail,
his back bowed, shoulders slumped in despair.

His gaze returned to the valley so fair
as in sorrow his heart sank in his chest.
The man, now old, destroyed, and withered,
mourned the fact he could go no farther.
Reclining upon hard, sharp, jagged rock,
he closed his eyes in deepest sleep.
When he woke lying on the valley floor,
he discovered his body young once more.