this mountain i’m climbing

My body says “slower”,

But my heart says “no more”.

My body shuts down,

But my head says “ignore”.

Exhausted from grieving,

I want to move on.

Long have I been here,

I want grieving gone.

Like hiking a mountain,

With turns and switchbacks.

Round and round I go,

This way then that.

My heart longs to be,

In the clear, on the top,

With sights to behold,

Where the air doesn’t stop.

To see what lies ahead,

And look out down below.

To admire how I made it,

And find new places to go.

But part of me wonders,

If there’s more to this journey.

A purpose for pain,

A hike full of learning.

If I choose to slow down,

Take each step in stride,

I can take time to notice,

New perspectives I find.

With each corner I turn,

I can stop and look down.

Encouraged to know,

I’m further from the ground.

As I move ever higher,

I must lighten my load.

The things that I carry,

Aren’t meant for this road.

Disappointment is heavy,

The weight makes me slow.

The mountain teaches me,

To let these things go.

Though I’m exhausted,

On this path that is long.

Each step that takes me higher,

Also makes me strong.

I don’t know if I’ll make it,

If I’ll ever be arriving.

But as long as I’m here,

This mountain I’ll keep climbing.