Altitude

We ascended through spring

pastures of wild crocuses

and Edelweiss, and with

every gaining step

your life regressed by

increments, minute by

minute, so that  by

the time we scrambled

along the ridge towards

the summit, you were a

child again, unable to contain

your breathless joy in the 

thin air, with trembling knees

that reminded me of the

excitement I felt when 

I thought I was about to

make a new friend.

John H Davies

22nd April 2011