Himalaya

for Hilary Bettis

 

I look around sometimes and only see

   The mountain range of what I haven’t done—

Discovered, named, and unexplored by me—

   Begun: each one of them; completed: none.

And then I look and see the future dwindling

   Down to what I must do during what’s left:

Choose what to write and what to use for kindling;

   And then be focused, disciplined, and deft.

Panic’s the enemy—it always scatters

   My energy to every tempting notion.

I must be calm, committed to what matters,

   And always aim for movement, not just motion—

      And watch the pages slowly grow beside me

      To make the mountain that was once inside me.

 

 

Copyright 2014 Matthew J Wells