The Mountain I Believed To Be Id

Across the valley Stood the mountain I believed to be id Two levels and a summit Made it appear layered Like first-dynasty pyramids It would be a long climb Step, stumble, slip, Clutch and elevate my entire being The valley’s simple green plants Lived in symbiotic coexistence With bees and ants Nature nurturing nature An embryonic journey Between the Tigres and Euphrates Such splendor might have caused me to remain Many do But I walked on At the base of the mountain I paused The summit hidden by a cloud ring I looked back upon my Mesopotamia Hailing its verdant simplicity Questioning the summit’s worth But uncontrollable curiosity And unquenchable desire Edged me forward I climbed onto rocky soil I stumbled as stones slipped ‘neath my feet Reaching out to clutch a bush I pulled upward The first plateau ran before me as a brook I peered into the pool of life Finding amphibians, reptiles, fish I waded Ankles rubbing green algae Creating eerie sensitivity Slippery touch The water cooled me Thinning air brought calm A sandy bottom soothed me Such harmony might have Caused me to remain Many do But above me Within a mystical Saturnic cloud Secrets of the summit beckoned Edging me to elevate Sweaty palms grasped a wild rose’s stem Sharp thorns drew blood My body fatigued, I cursed the climb What marvels lay above the ring The second plateau’s diversity thrilled me Simple moss, brown rabbits Deer with long, willowy legs Hundreds of life forms Gave me entrance To Thoreau’s untouched paradise The alluring cloud hung low above me I questioned my destination The second plateau’s oasis might have Caused me to remain Many do But irresistible desire Again edged me to step, stumble Slip, clutch and elevate I entered the cloud layer Feeling hot and cold dancing vapor The mountain I believed to be id Swam under my feet Perplexed, I muddled upward Above the timber line No trees, no grass No plants, no animals No life Still I was curious for id And took the final step A cold granite peak Amidst the grey moisture Self-realization was achieved I had seen all that was beautiful But passed it by The key to paradise was offered Three times Yet I had been a martyr to my own desire I could not see The valley, brook, Or paradise of total life I could see Only myself And I cried For want of something beautiful