the rose vine – “Mountains”

“Mountains”

My feet dangle above the earth

my hair blows in the wind.

I can see for what feels like miles away.

My heart skips a beat as I look below

but I feel safe.

His shoulders felt like mountains to climb

and I did. As often as he would allow.

When my short legs got tired on the long walk home.

When I needed a better view of what lied ahead.

Until I got too big and he got too old.

Time passes and I help him to bed and get him his lunch

The days I sat on those mountains now long gone.

The days I felt as high as the eagles we sought.

And then he’s gone.

Mountains buried six feet underground.

And part of my childhood dies with him.

I am no longer the little girl 

who could forget her troubles on her papa’s shoulders.

I am grown, or so it appears. I stand alone, 

my mile-long view replaced with a blurry haze.

Sorrow fills every inch of my feeble body

and I know I would give everything 

to climb those mountains once again,

to just feel safe in the world again,

to get back the peace that died with him.