Mt. Whitney Poem by Prasanta Behera

Darkness of summer stretched afar
unstarry night, coldness biting
hissing wind, fluttering leaves
hikers with headlights, tapping spikes
a wooden gate, a small trail awaits
Is there a mountain behind the veil of darkness
imagination and anxiety, prevail.

Every step becomes harder
every breath becomes dearer
noise becomes silence
trees become distant
wind becomes friend
struggle brews between mind and body
body questions the forward move each time
sprit says few steps to heaven, continue
and then sunrise happens.

Switchback after switchback
ninety-nine of them, to climb only two thousand
life is like that, one turn after another
unknown becomes known then unknown
keep making the turns, life beacons
hours of slow march to the mountain top
few minutes to watch the view that's all I got
I am alone in this vast painted view
a dot, a dust, unknown traveler
barren mountains emptiness surrounds
climbing down, I lay my gratitude.
few footmarks I may have left
Mt. Whitney, let the winds blow it away
few minutes of heaven, that's all I needed