Me and my husband’s newest activity is rock climbing

He likes to keep busy

And it makes up for all my “never minding”

We started back in February when he was in a mid-life crisis 

Just last night on the way to the climbing gym he said he finally has peace

I’ve learned that’s priceless 

We’re both top rope certified 

Along with forearm tendonitis, climbing those rocks reminds me I’m going to die

Last night as I reached, I missed the rock above 

I fell off the wall 

But my harness and that rope caught me like a dove 

I’m glad my partner was paying attention

In that rope he kept all the tension

Cameron 

I can’t tell if he’s older or younger

He hangs with us “kids” although he’s probably our age 

He’s got names for all the rocks, he’s climbed all the walls

Some of them are like canyons 

I barely know him but he catches me when I fall

My husband is like Spiderman

He floats along the rocks

And one of my favorite things about climbing is that I can’t see any clocks

Time slows a little 

You’d never think rocks themselves are gentle

But they hold me and I cling to them 

Some don’t like to be held 

And I get a searing pain in my elbow tendon

My husband trusts me to be his top rope partner

Last week I lowered him too fast but last night too slow 

Isn’t it interesting how one can bring another low?

This morning I put some frozen peas on my elbow 

It’s feeling alright 

I’ll be thinking of climbing when I go to sleep tonight 

Climbing is like life 

At the top of the wall, it’s time to descend 

Hopefully down below you’ve got a trusted friend

If you’re arms aren’t fried 

It’s time to climb 

You’ll feel like a hyrax

Nestled among the crags

In the hands of another

With burning forearms

You’ll strangely learn to relax