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"Eagle Cliff"

There is a place,
way up high in the Catskill's timberland,
known by the name of Eagle Cliff.

Standing at the crisp golden precipice edge,
looking down at the top of wild evergreen trees,
so far away and below my shod feet.
I'M SCARED!!!

No ropes,
no steel pitons,
no fancy shoes,
I descend to face my fears.
Slowly fingers, toes, fingers, toes,
I go below,
my tanned hands shake,
my soul elates,
I do what I'm told not to do...I look down,
way down,
I see myself shattered to the ground,
not breathing...Fear,
enemy mine,
HOWLS!!!

As transparent tears wet my flushed cheeks,
salty sweet sweat drips down my arms,
I'm very scared !

I move to get out of where no rescue can appear,
I climb,
I climb,
down to a stony ledge and rest
as an eagle screams its glory.
I slide to a ledge fifteen feet down,
a calculated risk,
or folly?
Thinking, "Only one way to go,
down to stand on my feet or
down to lay on the rocky ground,
broken like a snapped stalk of wheat,"
I face my fear.

Standing,
long hours later,
in the timberland looking up
at the path a boy took to be a man,
I laughed,
I cried,
I didn't die.

My brother the eagle delivered me from evil,
the fear I no longer cared to bear
after venturing from high ground
to low ground,
finding a love for life
at
Eagle Cliff.

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Ogden McGahan © 2002 "Ogdenian.com". All rights reserved.