KILIMANJARO POETRY Continued (4): Poems 6 and 7 (of 9)
The following two poems look at impact: after-climb thoughts and reflections.
6. Day 8—After Climb
Up there
Down here
Down here
Up there
Losing the fear
What once seemed difficult
Might not longer be
What once was out of reach
Attainable in reality
2 days on
The climb is but a dream
2 days on
Thoughts of home flow in
The wanting to stay in this space
Not that
The wanting more time away
Just to play
The wanting to shift
From an environment that doesn’t gel
Where the air is stale
And people pale
The wanting to be in the now, not just today
Feel alive in every way
Vital, intense, passionate, active
The Kili climb reminded me…
Who I was and how I can be.
7. Day 8—Camaraderie
With some you can
And others you can’t
With some you will
And others you won’t
There’s no knowing who, where, what, when
Except by how you feel
And what you’re enabled to do
The right group
At the right time
In the right moment
Being confident of others around
Made everything feel sound
Knowing we were on the same team
Made hurdles a dream
Familiar and not
About each other we learned a lot
But, oh so much more to know
Seeds of friendship to grow
Or, just right for the circumstance
A special connection, no matter what
A great beginning
Kindred spirits as they are
Not fancied up in a jar
Bonds that’ll mature
Or, bonds that’ll slow?
Magic and mystery surround
Coincidence and luck abound
Staying open is what counts
Continuing onward, upward, forward
No markings on the trail ahead
Spontaneity instead.
