I started at the bottom, the darkness like a coat

I stumbled up the mountainside, wary as a goat.

My companions gathered near to me amidst the gloomy night

“We shall ascend together” said my companions to my delight.

I carried high upon my back a weight of food and wood.

My sacrifice was in my bones, my heart, and soul, and blood.

The burning came not far past start, beginning in my legs

My lungs soon followed, the darkness swallowed, “rest” my body begs

The trail ever stretches on and up to highest summit

We crest a hill and there is more still before we overcome it

Bald faced rock with icy glare looks down upon our crew

Old man mountain shook his head, his crown of leaves withdrew.

And higher still we climbed this night till finally we reached

The top a rocky table though perilous neath our feet

One of our number slipped and fell along our journey fraught

With perils in the deepened dark, it ought have been our lot

Yet those of us who made it to the highest point that night

Were blessed with song and dance and finally the sun’s full light

It was through darkness and through death that we can be called wise

“Twas I who called you here” he said, the Sun had come. Arise.