A distant man stands
Upon the highest hill,
The morning sun surrounds him
And lantern smoke drifts still.
I've never seen his face up close,
Yet never thought to ask -
I've never felt the warm embrace
Of winter sun where he holds fast.
So up the hill
I dream to climb,
To reach the place
Where earth meets sky sublime.
The lantern glows
As daylight fades to cold,
And oily smoke rises,
Whisked like tendrils bold.
The Night
Through darkness now I trudge
And climb with aching will -
My goal sits gleaming
So tauntingly uphill.
But night wind howls its fury,
Bellows with wicked will,
Drives me stumbling downward
Until I'm at the bottom still.
Second Dawn
By morning light I rise again,
I grasp the earth with bitter grin.
Though the mountain towers steep,
I know that I will not grow thin.
Each handhold brings me higher,
Each footstep claims new ground -
The figure watching from above,
The seeker climbing upward bound.
The Summit
And when at last I reach the top,
I'll light the lantern's flame,
I'll watch the sun dance through the sky
And know I've won this game.
But as I stand here, looking down,
I see a figure far below -
An ardent soul who watches me
And dreams of heights they've yet to know.
The Climber
A steady man stands
Upon the highest hill,
The radiant sun beckons -
Another climber tests their will.
Dec 8, 2025
Dec 8, 2025 at 7:54 AM UTC
A distant man stands
Upon the highest hill,
The morning sun surrounds him
And lantern smoke drifts still.
I've never seen his face up close,
Yet never thought to ask -
I've never felt the warm embrace
Of winter sun where he holds fast.
So up the hill
I dream to climb,
To reach the place
Where earth meets sky sublime.
The lantern glows
As daylight fades to cold,
And oily smoke rises,
Whisked like tendrils bold.
The Night
Through darkness now I trudge
And climb with aching will -
My goal sits gleaming
So tauntingly uphill.
But night wind howls its fury,
Bellows with wicked will,
Drives me stumbling downward
Until I'm at the bottom still.
Second Dawn
By morning light I rise again,
I grasp the earth with bitter grin.
Though the mountain towers steep,
I know that I will not grow thin.
Each handhold brings me higher,
Each footstep claims new ground -
The figure watching from above,
The seeker climbing upward bound.
The Summit
And when at last I reach the top,
I'll light the lantern's flame,
I'll watch the sun dance through the sky
And know I've won this game.
But as I stand here, looking down,
I see a figure far below -
An ardent soul who watches me
And dreams of heights they've yet to know.
The Climber
A steady man stands
Upon the highest hill,
The radiant sun beckons -
Another climber tests their will.