POETRY

4 Letters

Healing on The Mountain

The Excitement of Vinicunca

majestically She sits
on her Andean Throne
silently watching
as i breathlessly struggle,
determined to reach
Her daunting
5,036 meter Vista Point

they call Her
Montaña Vinicunca
Montaña de Colores
Rainbow Mountain

i call Her
an Exquisite Piece
of La Madre Tierra

we are seven
plus our guide, john
who briefs us —
this is no race
take your time
some will go quickly
others will fall behind
some will suffer
from soroche,
the debilitating
altitude sickness

listen to your body
hydrate often
need a horse
decide now

pace yourselves
take breaks if needed
i have agua de florida
& oxygen, just ask