Sunday 8 October 2017

OctPoWriMo Day 8: How do we know what we know?

Mountaineering

Agnostics don't place much faith in much,
but somehow we intuited
that this one might work out.

Yet trusting intuition seems
at times too much to bear;
you barely dare to imagine,
fearing both wrongness and loss.

Reasons are ticked off on
mental and physical lists
as to why this can both
be and cannot be.

Language is our strongest foothold
as we document our journey up
this slipperiest of rock faces.
It confirms and eludes;
all the right kit still no guarantee
of reaching where we need to be.

In darkness and light
the maps and the training
both cease to be of use.
Emotion is our guide instead;
this feels right, so let's go there,
where happiness might be.

Finally letting ourselves feel,
our senses overtake:
mouths taste minds
and ears hear what eyes say.
Following our noses
we let our hands grab through dim light
for guidance.

All of this makes memories now
that will make sense years from here;
they form a sunny fabric,
and we enjoy the view.

1 comment:

Ornery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost said...

Taking chances is a difficult thing. When one gets one's hand burned too often, one comes to fear the fire.
I enjoyed this read.