Our car sinks into the mountains
their dim presence is felt
like black shadows following us in the night

My life is over, I think
when red and blue lights flash
through whirling rain
sudden ghusts of wind from the pass
lift the cover over a dead body
blood runs over the road

Raw peaks of iced rock stand grimly
in the ragged clouds, out of sight

We only see the lights of houses
restaurants, pubs, pretty, warm lights
adorning the lower slopes with the laughter of courage
exciting me to draw deep breaths of mountain air

In the presence of giants
who have lifted the land above all judgement
I climb, next day, as if being granted another day,
to rarefied happiness
defying the depths of rushing waterfalls
only with the mad courage of laughter