Every time I climb a mountain, 
And I'm feeling very proud, 
Another one looms into view, 
And once again, I'm cowed. 
I cannot always find the path, 
Sometimes there isn't any, 
Often I must start from scratch, 
And the hindrances are many. 

Rocks and stones are in the way, 
Sometimes I go around, 
Some I can crawl over, 
I kick others from the ground. 

Brambles are a nuisance, 
But if I touch enough, 
They're just an inconvenience, 
For my skin has grown tough. 

I ignore small cuts and bruises, 
They happen all the time, 
They may halt me for a moment, 
Soon I resume my climb. 

Sometimes friends climb with me, 
I'm more often on my own, 
Should I trip and hold them up, 
They leave; I go on alone. 

If I slip, and I do often, 
I may sit down and cry, 
Eventually I get back up, 
Give it another try. 

Sometimes I move in circles, 
I just go 'round and 'round, 
I don't make any progress, 
In fact, I may lose ground. 

Struggle - struggle - struggle, 
At last I reach the crest, 
I laugh aloud - no longer cowed, 
And I have found success. 

My satisfaction is short-lived, 
As I realize I'm not done, 
For there looms another mountain, 
And it's a bigger one. 

As long as God will go with me, 
And will let me take His hand, 
I vow I'll keep on climbing, 
'Til I reach His Promised Land. 


By Virginia Ellis