1924 Everest expedition
The broken remains of a mountain climber
several thousand feet from precipitous peak,
nature had attempted a fair burial with snow,
but some parts remained exposed to air,
the right leg had crossed to protect the left,
in an attempt to shield it from cold and pain,
the life was slowly ebbing out of this valiant man,
his body carrying artefacts from home and love,
undiscovered he lay for 70 years, preserved
in the frozen cold of the everest. He fell to death
with his colleague who fell with him, whose
body still remains undiscovered.
His conquest of the peak will for ever remain
a mystery, whether the two young heroes of
past had scaled the Everest first!
The swirling wind and snow will never speak
to say- of the events on the day the two fell,
the pain they suffered and the mental anguish
of those who loved them,
they have quietly watched many such deaths,
amongst jubilations of a few who won,
the fickle nature of human attempts against
the might of nature’s awesome powers.
Many mountains hold the remains of such
champions who never returned home,
but from their abode in the snowy peaks
they have inspired generations of victorious
teams who have taken their flags to the top!
In every defeat is the seed of victories,
every victory has heartache of several
defeats!
Journeys of life have shades of both,
some may win and some may lose,
but in the eyes of the mountains that
hold them in their hearts, even the fallen,
are counted amongst the winners with courage.
Copyright ©
Krish Radhakrishna
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