RECKONING
Katherine Gallagher

Each foot taking us
faster-slow, shadows
before the range
we angled towards it.
Beyond the scattered
settlements, our paths
spanned out.

Soon we hiked by
waterfalls;
our tracks zigzagged
the mountain's furred skin.
This was like work:
the weight and sweat
of the climb
pulling us back
in our push towards
that line
far away enough
to meet the sky.

Stepping over bramble
we urged each other forward,
leaving everything we knew
behind. The mountain
owned us. Our faces
wore together
like two sides of a coin.

Image (photograph)
Copyright of this poem remains with the author.
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