A POEM BY R. STEPHEN
Feet drag over stones,
expelling plumes of dust
electric light beams from my brow
into the thin dry air
this day
only wind and my laboured breath
have reached my ears
reaching Gilman’s Point
I collapse
defeated
against a cold white boulder
the sharp unstable ground
offers no relief
I slouch
motioning tardily
toward my backpack
laying in ruin on the pebbles
relief as water trickles
over my cracked tongue
dim light emerges as I stare
down toward a field of silver
clouds I left behind days beforea
an explosion of colour
meets the horizon
as the blue sky reveals itself
a thin gold belt separates
the sapphire sky
from the grey smoke below
I lean
motionless
as the Serengeti is unveiled
an energy fills me
as I find my noesis
my head turns
I look at the volcanic silhouette above
a sunflower finds its light
as I rise to my feet
I must go on
Uhuru summons
About This Poem
Kilimanjaro Nights: finding fortitude in the night
Kilimanjaro Nights was inspired by my ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2017. It was a fast climb, and the combination of darkness, altitude, and exhaustion caught up with me all at once. Having spent many nights at high altitude, I’ve learned that such places can feel profoundly lonely. In the wind, cold, and thin air, fatigue can distort your thoughts and magnify every doubt. This poem reflects that struggle. At its heart, it is about confronting adversity, holding on to a purpose when comfort feels far away, and finding the strength to keep moving towards your goal.
The sunrise over the African plains from 19,000ft really is a sight to behold.
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