Helvellyn Poem by Amy J Richardson

We ventured up Helvellyn this weekend,
she wasn’t kind.
She stung our cheeks
and sent weather to numb our minds.
Summoning the icy winds
and throwing daggers,
we braced ourselves my lover and I,
and on we staggered.
The jagged gravel
of the mountain path was locked
bound by solid ice, we stumbled
and held one another,
picking through the rocks.
I kept my head low, my eyes watered
the liquid froze,
my lover he lead us on
and the wind followed,
whichever path he chose.
Little shelter atop her peak
in the open,
the gusts barrelled
and battered,
our legs were weak.
Though soon the decline began
the wind abated,
stilled the air,
Helvellyn took pity upon us
and her gales
were directed elsewhere.
We lowered our hoods, straightened
and I freed my ice-clad hair.
Hand in hand
my lover and I,
we slid and skidded through the snow
that flooded the grasses
down the other side.
We laughed together
through the shabby flocks,
of frosted sheep huddled
beneath the hedge
‘til we met the forest’s edge
and beneath the boughs
we returned around
to complete the circle trip
homeward bound.

We ventured up Helvellyn this weekend,
she wasn’t kind.
But here are we my lover and I,
still walking
down her other side.


Copyright © 11.19am Monday 4th February 2008