GR the mountaineer

The man prone to his dream of long walks

Meadows he doesn’t consider often,

They’re easy turfs

Hilly tops? – He says – a walk in the park!

It’s apparent

The man likes to feel his feet

Burning

A mountaineering way of

Thinking the rock he steps on…

A mountaineering way

Of daring to climb the unknown

And to thank the valleys

For allowing the cool, clear

Alpine streams

Freshening his feet

To retain their feel, until…

The mountaintops

Lower their snowy hats

In respect for the daring

Englishman

Until he becomes one of them;

One of the mountain’s rocks

At the very top

With no need for waves or sand-

‘Cos he’s got the whole, of

The Balkans in his hand.

He doesn’t sleep.

He fears it might be all a dream.

He goes to sleep, and

He wakes up in storming snows

Heading westerly…

That could be only GR –

The mountaineer…

Përparim 2009