Climbing

The mountains loom above the little town.

The sun sets and they cast their shadows down.

The climber, still suspended from the rocks,

Clips in, makes sure the carabiner locks,

Takes one step up then one step up again.

"I'm off belay!" she calls down to her friend.

She builds an anchor, tosses down the rope.

This is the time she will allow some hope

That maybe, somehow, she will climb the wall,

Be strong enough to climb and then stand tall

Above the place she's lived so many years

And, looking down, to finally face her fears.