I Say I Never Tire of Looking at the Mountain

The mountain stands

               and

the mountain reminds.

The mountain is there

even

when we don’t see it because

of the clouds

or the fog

or a vapor mist

and then the mountain will be there

when we’re

all gone.

To walk to the top of the mountain is

called climbing you

can’t just stroll meander or amble

across let alone over

the mountain.

To climb the mountain

you must have gear –

clothing designed especially for the climb

tools purposed

only for such a climb

and then as well there is the training –

physical training

skills training

mental rigour training all essential

for climbing the mountain.

You say to me

why should I care –

this doesn’t make the mountain in

any way special

we very simply

should never have to

have anything to do

with walking up any mountain.

I say

the mountain is a symbol

of a struggle

to see meaning.

You squeeze the mountain

between your fingertips.

Nature I say

doesn’t feel a mountain

                        as any more majestic

than an ocean bottom –

most creatures know only features

                        of the small spaces they inhabit.

However

I continue saying

to be human we try

to grasp immensity with

fierce vision or our

imagination of a

freedom.  

You say what did you say I was texting work.