Ascent (of Everest)

Mallory and Irvine were last seen making for the summit. (Log entry).

Ascent 

 

 Last seen!  The mind’s perverse italic

unerringly selects (and so betrays)

that wryly classic, errant phrase:

            Last seen

making for the summit!

 

What else? 

                Below, the sane

logistics of ascent

give lie to this, their

giddy accomplishment.

 

Below, now seen, each man

wishes his ambition to the sky:

Mallory and Irvine, Irvine and Mallory.

Why should they escape?

 

Ahead Everest.

Climbing they traverse

slow  frozen  limitations.

Roped, they gain the ridge, pause   

for the lung's poor

threshold, plunge forward

toward uttermost!

 

Air stings with ice,

the sun jigs...a furious machine.

                                     Five miles high

their cheeks crack with smiles.

 

Climbing, they pass from sight.