ON THE
sixth day
the smallest
leaf trailed
a winding
tendril
to the left
along
a ridge
of wire rope
as if below
a couloir
its iced
gorge
come alive
with
columbine
penstemon
saxifrage
fed from snows
and readied
for long
summer climbs
like those we made
as muscled
youths
STRUNG TIGHT
and waiting
this wire
anticipates
an heroic
reach
and echoes
chirks
from granite walls
'on belay!"
climbing
against
forces feared
but not yet
understood
nor yet
resisted -
Gravity
and
Time
THESE MEN
emerging
made no
solo ascent
but one
not soon
forgotten
memoried
like proud
blooms
of honeysuckle
appointed in
vermillion
aureolin
cremnitz white
and trellised
for the
restful
seventh days
of summer
and days
after
until
the final
autumn
day comes
whitening
as it always does
—RJ Stewart