I hear the magpie calling me
Its cry reverberating off the mountain side
Insistent like cold winter chill
I pull my jacket tighter,
And focus my vision on the summit
The mountain peak ahead of me
In the distance; hidden by rolling grey
The warmth from within keeps me determined
Slippery slithers of rock, at my feet
I concentrate to reach the grassy ledge
The arête ahead of me
A challenging barrier between me
And success …
Again the Magpie is calling me
From the valley side far below me
I know its beady eyes seek me out
Its claws tight around another treasure
Mind to mind we understand the world
This preternatural winter is never ending
The realm of shadows intent on a mortal's demise
One slip on the precarious edge
And I will feel the sharpened talons of death
As its angel meets me halfway
I calm my beating heart
Gripping the frost ridden rock tighter; safe
Alone here in this twilight world
Swirling mists my only companions
I clamber higher; ever higher
Towards my goal; a release from this burden
Energies focussed on this determined achievement
Through the gloom I spy the finale
The summit ridge; a hint of the cairn …
And the magpie is silent now
It knows I cannot lose this concentration
I make the summit now
Buffeted by a banshee from hell.
Behind the cairn of boulders
I rest; my breath forming plumes in the air
Soon the wintry chill penetrates my bones
A swig of warming liquid
And I'm on my way again
Descending the ridge
Which travels from south to north
The buffeting wind a deadly foe up here
Quickly, I leave the summit ridge
Finding my way onto another arête … safely
Soon I drop beneath the swirling mists
And the banshee leaves me
I hear the magpie calling out once more
Its cry loud above the still
Below me now I see signs of habitation
Farmers fields; dry stone walls …
In the distance a town
Its lights now shining through the gloom
This mortal day nearly over; I feel so weary
The challenge of shattered rocks;
My descending path;
Not welcomed as the day light fades
But with sure footedness and poise
I leave that mischief far behind
And soon I find my way onto a bridge
Which leads me over an idyllic stream
Its rhythmic sound soothing my senses
Lending its magic to within
As a portal opens once more
And I wander into that other world
The magpie's cackle close
Blending then with a human voice
As a presence stands beside me
Healing me then with its etheric mystery
Minds merged; intentions blended
My soliloquy comprehended
By myself and another
For spirits ne'er die
They always hang around
And share in the clarity of dreams
But this ascent of the magical peak
The perfect mountain; a favourite place
Was as real within; as it was without
The memory of that wonder still haunts me
A powerful portend; a symbolic quest
Something to remain with me
Until I wander thro' for that final time
To become a resident of those inner realms
A guide perhaps to other dreaming souls
For beyond the physical
No limits exist
In that realm of higher thoughts …
Spirits rekindle their awareness
Their identity shines thro'
They choose there to remain or return …
