Everpest
old man on the hillside
summit in his sight
sherpa to the left
fixed rope to the right
two hundred in front of him
two hundred behind
in step now with hillary
all-conquering kind
peak view stunning
simultaneous blinding
what's hidden below
under snowy icing
20 tons of garbage
many things much worse
four human bodies
four buried climbers
the dichotomies of life
and its many highs
man compromises
age has made him wise
youth on the hillside
summit out of sight
doesn't need an answer
gets the question right