Mountainous Achievement

MOUNTAINOUS ACHIEVEMENT

Mightier than any man,

Stronger than anything.

Years in millions have passed

And barely a crack on its

Unforgivingly barren face.

In California, in Yosemite

It stands unconquered, undefeated

For over 200 years

On its Dawn Wall.

Rock climbers have tried,

Their gear protecting them

From the anger of the

Sheer plain face of rock

El Capitan. All have failed

Giving up, unable to

Balance their fingers and

Toes on ledges of rock

Thinner than a pencil,

Their calloused hands

Burning from gripping anything

They can, struggling to go on.

Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell,

Climbers of remarkable

Perseverance and skill

Set out on this task

Of David conquering Goliath

Despite the task

Being fraught with peril.

They packed meals for

Days, getting ready for

What was ahead of them

Huge bags, with tents

And gear, roped up

By massive pulleys

As they hunted for a place

To spend the night.

It remained that way

For 18 days, climbing

Up with what footholds

They found, risking everything…

Finally, on the 18^th day,

That sacred number, the number

Of days of the Mahabharata,

There was a joyful hallali

O’er Goliath’s corpse

Lying on the ground,

Vanquished at last.

The men, who with determination

So unending had done it

Performed a dance of

Ecstasy as they stood

On the summit of El Capitan

And enjoyed the rosy

Hues of the sun

Rising from behind the

Mountains, illuminating

Their world and the

Valley for them to feast

Their eyes upon.