He Climbed the Mountain

He climbed the mountain
to tell others
he climbed the mountain
but watched its meaning
pour through his fingers.

He climbed the mountain
to fill an unspoken hole
but found
the mountain cold
to his request. 

The mountain had
winds and clouds and glaciers
to feed
not men with insatiable want. 

He climbed the mountain
to put an X on his list
but saw his list race to infinity
And knew he
was through racing.

He climbed the mountain
uncertain of why he
climbed the mountain
expecting only the
unexpected.

And the mountain turned to watch.

The mountain had
winds and clouds and glaciers
and a man
to feed. 

more poetry >

[all photographs made on Mount Rainier]