Foothold Lyrics

The ridge had long hinted
At strong and at weak –

Both threatening wall
And welcoming peak

A taunting horizon
For shortening years

One sun, but two shadows:
Equidistant fears

For my life I have watched you
Like my father before
Do I die without knowing?
Or climb to find more?

Compelled to discover
With answers so near

And with thoughts so contorted
By a limbic leer

With the bristling awareness
Of a fate not yet sealed,

A decision is reached
That the great peak shall yield

Looking back, I now see,
Having long since set off
Though in first breaking trail,
Of course, I could not –

That the struggle continues,
Tearing sinew each step
Sensing one fear replaced
By its twin, in regret

Growing nearer, hope holding
Simple foothold; a fall

Damaged limb, but not fatal –
Just a moment, to stall

Rising up, now mere steps
From the summit, look down

To stare out across that
Which was already found

I am here, at the crest
Where my eyes always fell
Did I leave them for this?
Frozen lips cannot tell

Looking back, I now see,
Having long since set off
Though in first breaking trail,
Of course, I could not –

That my time, and this mountain, and my father before
But a cycle of reaching and striving to claw,
Moving higher, hands clasping, eyes looking for more
Not a thing left to find, in all that I saw