The Journey Inward

The ascent begins immediately
Heart begins to pound
Unused to the lack of a warm-up
Wondering if it’s the elevation

But breath settles
As legs begin to burn
And the careful navigation over rocks and roots
Battles with the desire to take in all the views
To be present, not just with foot falls,
But with the sights and sounds of forest
And meadow
And mountain. 

There are the calls of birds
The scurrying of chipmunks
And the playfulness of squirrels

There is wind
And water
And the occasional voices of fellow hikers

There is easy conversation
And there is silence
There is the feeling of being small
But not inconsequential. 

Trees soothe the soul
And whisper the stories of those
Who have trod this way before
Nature works it’s magic

At times, a deep and crippling fear takes hold
On cliffside paths,
exposed
unsteady
uncertain
imagining the worst. 

Speaking aloud to Self
Each time sounds different
Knowing the words needed to push through
Sometimes just cursing!
Others speak rationally,
But best to be left alone
Self paced
Listening to body 
Through choices.

The mountain tests us,
Challenges us,
Asks something of us
To hike is to answer the call. 
Within us, from around us.