When they saw him—
an old, frail, faded man—
they laughed and turned to him:
This is a trekking expedition
not an eating extravaganza…
When their jeers failed
they wondered at his madness
they looked at him, top to toe
his wrinkles, his creases, also his slight bow
feared for him, for their mission too…
They would poke fun at him at every turn
that they would see his ashes in the urn
half-way through, they urged him to have fun
till they go to the top and return…
But he smiled, drank coffee, and their burn.
Fatigued towards the end, yet dragged his feet
determination drew his spirit out on the steep,
staggered at times, looked lovingly at the peak…
No, he was not the first, nor was it without strain
but his eyes glowed when he too shared the plain…
