Climbing the Mountain

Travel
Written By Andrew Gaffney

Skiddaw Mountain Sheep in the Lake District

Climbing the Mountain

As I wipe the mountain mist

that glistens with sweat on my face

and shrouds the path ahead

my eyes follow the furry hills

that roll with the rhythm of the wind

and together plummet back 

to the birth of the ascent

which has escaped my vision

years and miles ago

through the nose out the mouth

I swallow the thick air

which grows colder

with each stride forward

far from the familiarity

that once filled my lungs

and without sight of the summit

filling me with question

but a shadow broke this loud silence

a black stain on the white wall of the Earth

I locked eyes with a lone black sheep

before he confidently continued on

slowly but surely to where he was headed

and suddenly I found myself

climbing without question


Ascent Up Skiddaw Mountain With Foggy Backdrop, Lake District

Walla Crag Trail in Keswick, Cumbria

Enjoying the Top of Walla Crag Overlooking Derwent Water, Keswick









Andrew Gaffney