Wednesday 31 August 2016

POETS UNITED - CONQUEST

“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” - Edmund Hillary

This week, the Mid-Week Motif in Poets United is “Conquest”. My contribution below:

My memory of the climb is dominated by the bitter cold – more intense and harsh than the inhospitable terrain and the ache in each of my muscle fibres. The tracks narrow, the ice and snow treacherous, each step calculated and deliberate. My breath laboured and each time I raised my eyes to look at the peak beckoning through breaks in the clouds, I wondered whether I would be able to reach that shimmering, bright mountain top high above me or whether I would collapse in a lifeless heap.

Each new mountain that we climb is a new challenge, each new peak that rises up in front of us is a new invitation to conquer its heights. The path to the summit is difficult, the climb is dangerous, the reward seemingly unattainable. And yet we accept the challenge and we choose to climb; why? Because it is there? Because of the hope of fame and glory? Because of the expectations of our peers and friends? No, the need is deeper and more personal. We climb because we must, we climb to conquer our own limitations and to vanquish our own internal demons.

Once at the top, there is the heady feeling of success as one views the earth below as if it were a prize offered on a tray. The mountain has been conquered, the fires within have been extinguished and the yearning quelled.

The road to your heart
Is steep, icy, dangerous;
But bliss its conquest…

11 comments:

  1. Very fine, layered and nuanced treatment of that amazing climb.

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  2. Great stuff.. we do have our own mountains to climb, the road to our hearts!!

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  3. Mountains and conquests! Go hand in hand together.
    Good stuff.

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  4. It is rewarding oneself for taking the first step towards overcoming fear and fatigue - satisfaction and success ring loud in one's chest! Very much so Nicholas!

    Hank

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  5. i like this kind of conquest, very challenging and inspiring....

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  6. The climb to the peak of a mountain....or to someone's heart can be equally challenging....along with the bliss of attainment. I am impressed you climbed to that snowy peak. Such a difficult climb. I can imagine the view!

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  7. We climb because we must - I think that is so very true. No matter how, what or where.. We must put one foot in front of the other and reach the highest spot we can - well scaled and penned

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  8. My internal demons are lifelong companions and nicer than anyone I know. I'm keeping mine and we are not climbing anything other than a few flight of stairs:)

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  9. We climb because we must, we climb to conquer our own limitations and to vanquish our own internal demons... Amen!! ❤

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  10. Luv how you bottled the exhilaration of the climb in your haiku

    much love...

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  11. Two tough climbs to conquer: a mountain peak, and someone's heart. This is wonderful writing, Nicholas!

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