Fear Of Heights

A true experience turned poem.

Fear of Heights

 

It started with a hike,

A walk through shaded woods

We found our favourite spot

Thought that the climb would do us good

We made our way uphill

Through roots and stones and paths

Stretching higher and higher

Until we could not go back to where we passed

We kept on climbing farther

Because we could not go back down

I looked up at my father

Because I could not look at the ground

We struggled on our footing

Going up and up and up

It got steeper and steeper

Until we’d had enough

My mind was filled with fear

I was forced to look down below

There was no place

Up or down

That I could see that we could go

We had climbed up on a cliff

There was no way back down

All we could do is go higher and higher

We felt fear when we looked down

My father told me that there would be a way to reach the top

And we would certainly be safe there

But for now let’s catch our breath and stop

And breath in the mountain air

It started with a hike

A walk through shaded woods

We found our favourite spot

Thought that the climb would do us good

But now there was no way to go

Either up or down

A 30 foot wall of rock on one side

A dozen that much drop on the other side around

A sheer fall to the ground

I was stranded on a cliff

My dad looked for a way up

He said he found a spot

But I had had enough

Around the cliff wall, was a path no more than two feet wide

A drop to my death

Was on the other side

I could not make the walk

Because of my fear of heights

My dad said I could do it

That I would be alright

I said “go on without me”

And that’s just what he did

My dad braved the deadly trail

And made it to a spot

That was even steeper

Then what we had just climbed up

He tried to make it up

I was sure that he’d fall down

My heart was beating so fast

That it was the only sound

He managed to the top

And yelled at me from above

“Come up, you can do it!”

He must have thought I was a dove

I admit I was relieved

I thought that he would fall

But I knew I couldn’t do it

My fear of heights and all

I tried to brave the trail

But stopped every time

I sat on the ledge by the cliff

Defeated by the heights

I remembered I had a cellphone

I dialed 911

And waited for some help

I hoped that they could come

Merely two hours later the cavalry arrived

They came down with a rope

Which to my waist they tied

They pulled me up from certain death

And took me to my dad

I’d live another day

There was no reason to be sad

My fear of heights had lessened

I no longer feared the fall

Instead I fear what would have happened

If I wasn’t helped at all

Author's Note

Please review this, and be honest about it. I can take criticism.


I very seldom reply to reviews, but I promise I read EVERY single one. I look forward to my next review, because it helps me learn. Even if it's just one word, I promise, I will be ecstatic to have the chance to hear what you have to say. Whenever you write something about my poems, or the themes of my poems, or criticize me it is not in vain. I will listen, learn and be thankful.

Reviews

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

brilliantly descriptive i felt your emotions on the cliff
thanks so much for your honest poem true life poem experienced by you
thanks
you are so brave climbing
thanks for entering my greatest fear competition well done