he set his foot with surity
carefully as if his life depended on it
falling was not an option
one foot, one hand, after another
so slowly he sometimes got sick of the pace
climbing is easier when you know which way is up
it wasn’t always easy
he had traversed great stretches
then, while distracted by a fluttering bird
pebbles rained down on fellow climbers below
slipping back
loosing precious ground
sliding into the hand of a sure footed neighbor
he stopped to catch his breath
to retrace his steps
back to the alltime high
retracing was easier
grooves are that way
he had climbed into the nite
far away from the others
with weariness around the bend
a little mistake
no one to catch him
freefall
tumbling
crying out, helpless
cuts and bruises
landing squarely into waiting arms
knotted hands shooting from the dirt
oddly placed, but expected
feeding leaves that shadded him,
from a light rain
a sweet oasis
he rested for the next days climb
