Rapture

This is a sonnet to one of my favorite activities: rock climbing!

I have known the inevitable rapture of shoulders

tensed for beginning, bliss of beat and breath,

all the elation of bruises and scrapes,

cleverness coalescing in chips and cracks,

transport around arête via jugs and calluses,

extraordinary white conviction of chalked hands,

ecstasy in soft shoes and in sweet sweat,

fortitude in toes, thighs, palms and fingers.

And I have felt the harmony of my red harness

enveloping my hips, robust, secure though slender,

allied by carabineer’s barrel and gate, to the rope

sliding past my face with serpentine subtlety.

And we have known the unity of call

and response, rise and pull, stop and rest,

unwavering sureness through feeling connection,

the inevitable rapture of trust.

Reviews

[m.s.early]

This is written so smoothly it was over before I knew it and so i read it a few more times.

"And I have felt the harmony of my red harness" - I think this is my favorite line

[DaughterNature]

Wow, thank you so much! I really feel strongly about how wonderful and fun rock climbing is, so I'm glad the poem shares that!

[Misery]

Another unique and interesting celebration on a facet of life. Best of success upon the rock and with the pen, dear poet.