tis grace

Rearing up before it lies dark shadow cast and block the sky through bitter cold and blazing light even its might now scars are borne slippery grit and loose stones ledges narrow and cracks tight flesh so weak and spirit quakes the one must climb and overcome simple brawn courage strong no sure path nor way marked still set forth and ascend with care probe and errors find else do waves in cold wind crash splay like ice on tender flesh no skill or might nor daring deed courage counts not to cross this path yet go we must be in fragile shell toss to and throe with towering might white knuckles seize as muscles shake our bowels like waters and strength flows away and charted course soon lost within and all our tries are not enough far below in blinding light white gives way to new life yet there not the path is not and frozen cold is one our way mud so cold on stones slip grasping roots stops our steps warmth does melt yet bitter cold steels away both strength and will yet others behind for us depend to open the path and mark the way heart does pound dry is mouth and muscles quake and fear is strong one cannot know and hope is weak still we take another step ‘tis through grace that lifts us up the way still hard but our burden light together we still onward go together on ‘tis through grace