Mountain
He is a mountain
One holding me back
One restricting me
One keeping me from who I am
I can’t climb the mountain
I can’t find a mountain pass
I can’t go around the mountain
I can’t avoid the mountain
My goal is on the to her side
the gold in California
It’s all on the other side
of this impassable mountain
I look to the pinnacle
shrouded in clouds
The Pinnacle
keeping me back
This colossus
keeping me from my future
keeping me from myself
I’ve passed other mountains
others seeming like hills
in comparison
to this colossus
The forest at the base of the mountain
acting as my cell
I get food and water from the forest
but not support
not connection
I seek support from the other travelers
who can traverse the mountain
who can get to the other side
those who can get to California
They stay with me for a few weeks then they must continue their journey
I look to those who get there
and wish I could follow
wish I could join them
wish I could get my hands on the gold
But until I’m eighteen
I must stay on this side of the mountain
despite the people my age and younger
being able to pass through the mountain
I stare at them with envy
envious of a family who lets them get to the coast
He is my mountain
One I cannot pass until I’m eighteen
