Two Mountains

The clamber beats me up.
Now I have to heel slide 
down a scree covered ravine
while trying to ignore the sweat of panic.

Half-way down
there’s a large smooth boulder,
I hug it
slow my breathing,
stop battling the mountainside.

Rock Ravens
circle a compass of warm air,
ascend and drop 
with hardly a wingbeat.

It’s then I recall 
that there are two mountains here,
one under my feet
the other 
I brought with me
as a tower of doubt.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Ashley Avatar
March 11, 2020 at 9:39 PM
Eric, your artistic intensity captivated me and rewarded me with the satisfying thrill of a profound self-revelation in the end. Such a potent and exceptional piece! Warmest wishes, mi amigo! ~Susan
Ashford Avatar
March 11, 2020 at 9:53 PM
Thank you compadre, it's good to hear from you on this journey we take together. It's so rewarding to get such a positive confirmation from a thoughtful critic such as you.
Ferdous Avatar
March 10, 2020 at 7:45 PM
Thoughtful. It is a sad, mystic evening out there. Same sadness can bring those words, knowingly or unknowingly. Dear Eric, thanks for your poem. Tamanna
Ashford Avatar
March 10, 2020 at 8:18 PM
Thank you very much Tamanna for this insightful review. Obliged to you.
De Beaulieu Avatar
March 10, 2020 at 6:21 PM
Hello Eric, i just read your poem. This person in your poem was brave. i would never climb a mountain. have a nice evening my friend.
De Beaulieu Avatar
March 11, 2020 at 8:29 AM
Hello Eric Ashford, Ohio has no mountains! I did not know that. i learned something today. Thank you. Have a nice day my friend.
Ashford Avatar
March 10, 2020 at 6:39 PM
Thanks for the comments Darlene, living in mainly flat Ohio it's easy for me to avoid mountains now. Cheers.
Leiser Avatar
March 10, 2020 at 5:43 PM
Excellent set up, and then the two mountain reveal..nicely written, Eric. Enjoyed! :)
Ashford Avatar
March 10, 2020 at 6:13 PM
Hi Laura, very pleased that this worked for you. Thanks!
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