The ride up was arduous -
a royal (& literal) pain in the ass.
His legs & lungs burned,
gravity & momentum worked against him...
But he kept his head down,
kept pedaling, one breath at a time,
& he eventually reached the apex of his efforts,
the summit of his struggles.
A break in the trees revealed a sparkling sea beyond the bluff.
The reflecting sunshine gleamed in his eyes
as he looked out at a sailboat journeying onward,
toward a horizon of infinite possibility.
* * * * *
The bike ride up was daunting & exhausting,
but the struggle was worth the view from the top.
The immensity of the sea
shrunk all of his worries & problems
down to actual size.
Once he took the time to reflect & respect the summit he had climbed,
once he realized how small his place was in this brutal,
yet beautiful world,
& that we're all in this together...
it was all downhill from there.
a royal (& literal) pain in the ass.
His legs & lungs burned,
gravity & momentum worked against him...
But he kept his head down,
kept pedaling, one breath at a time,
& he eventually reached the apex of his efforts,
the summit of his struggles.
A break in the trees revealed a sparkling sea beyond the bluff.
The reflecting sunshine gleamed in his eyes
as he looked out at a sailboat journeying onward,
toward a horizon of infinite possibility.
* * * * *
The bike ride up was daunting & exhausting,
but the struggle was worth the view from the top.
The immensity of the sea
shrunk all of his worries & problems
down to actual size.
Once he took the time to reflect & respect the summit he had climbed,
once he realized how small his place was in this brutal,
yet beautiful world,
& that we're all in this together...
it was all downhill from there.
Great poem, whether we read it literally or metaphorically. Effort and Nature do help us to see things with hindsight.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind comment, Gabriella!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteI like the idea of the ride up...and the journey to infinite possibilities can only be reached by pedaling upward!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it!
DeleteI love the insights ~ Sometimes we need to see the bigger picture so that everything else pales in comparison and it doesn't look so difficult after all ~
ReplyDeleteExactly! Thanks for reading, Grace.
Deletebig bike fan here - so this was cool. few things are as disheartening as riding up as far as you can see and then seeing the road go ever up. However you're right cresting the top puts things into perspective.
ReplyDeleteOh I know, that's the worst. But the view at the top is always worth the uphill struggle.
DeleteThe harder we work, the sweeter the reward. Cresting that hill and seeing all the endless wonderfulness right in front of you.
ReplyDeleteYou got it. Thanks for the comment, Hayes.
Deletethat is so true that things look different from another perspective and if we manage to get into a bit of a distance to our problems with a bikeride or sth. like that
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Claudia!
DeleteI agree with the others--distance helps perspective greatly.
ReplyDeleteThat it does.
DeleteAll is perspective. A salient reminder.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading my poem, Roslyn.
DeleteInteresting use of literal and metaphorical, synonyms - I think somewhere between the two there is a perfect poem there...
ReplyDeleteRead into it however you like. Thanks for the comment, Marina!
Deleteyou certainly capture the moments in this... life a struggle
ReplyDeleteIt is, but it's all worth it in the end.
DeleteWorth it for sure. Quite nicely done, Alex!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer!
DeleteLife presents us with challenges every day - and sometimes we do look up to see where we are and how far we have come - nice, Alex.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment!
DeleteI like to walk (I'm not a biker) to high places and it is true that your worries and fears do shrink when you are faced with the immensity of what you see.
ReplyDeleteWell said!
DeleteIt's healthy to step away from things and view them from a different... I think this fits with my dverse intro.... smiles. Great write
ReplyDeleteLol I think it fits! Motivation comes from the most random things. Like riding a bike lol. Thanks for the comment, Anthony.
DeleteTo rest at the apex and wait for the thrill of the the downhill.. I like that thought a lot Alex.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it, Bjorn!
DeleteThis built its way up to a wonderful smile.
ReplyDeleteLove these lines:
"the immensity of the sea
shrunk all of his worries & problems
down to actual size"
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment.
DeleteI love this. It drew me in instantly and the end did make me smile. I guess once we reach that proverbial top of self-realization, the rest is a breeze. Lovely witing. I don't think I've ever visited you before. Glad I did today.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked it, Myrna! & thanks for the visit, hope to see you again!
DeleteA spectacular view can, indeed, put your place in the world in perspective--especially if you've had to work hard to enjoy it. This is a great metaphor for personal achievement.
ReplyDeleteSpot on.
DeleteAs a bike rider I can insert myself into this poem. The fresh breeze at the top and the immensity of the world does give us a good perspective. It is good to be reminded of it too, our relationship to the greater entity of the earth and humanity. I like the way you coasted to the end :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you could relate! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteShoulder to the wheel, calf to the pedal, biceps to the iron; staying focused until our blood is stirred; then the pause to reflect, savor & enjoy; ah, yes, all in this piece & more; cool.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Glenn!
Deletereminds me of cycling in the mountains...a few passes where I climbed 1500 meters over the course of 20 kms. Brutal pedalling up, but the sense of triumph at the top made it all worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, the view at the top & the perspective it grants makes it all worth it. Keep climbing!
DeleteInteresting poem and there are many ways to get to the top of a mountain..whether we bike, walk, drive or climb that mountain. It can be internal or external..one pedal/step at a time. On a mountaintop one can breathe inhale/exhale..the view can be amazing...sometimes life is about perspective..but what do I know.
ReplyDelete