Climber

One step at a time, against reason

Walking past death

Into warm air, where rivers flow
In dreams

High on icy peaks

In your mind
You’ve already died
A thousand ways

Boots plunge in snow

Mechanically
Against reason
Even when the heart says
no more

But like breath
The steps move forward
One at a time

Over wobbly legs
The mind holds onto life

Don’t look up to see how far to go
Don’t look back
Don’t look down

Just one more step

Then another
And another

And…

A poem by Pemba Umoja