tethering her love to it...
The mountain climber knows
the gift
of the summit is worth
the toile of the climb.
When scaling the cliffs,
her body strains deeper,
pushes further,
and works harder
with every carefully placed step.
The climber tames
the mountain
like a lover conquering a beast with great triumph.
She descends the mountain
with freedom
in calloused hand.
But not before tethering her love to it.
Many say “Love is vast
and beautiful
like a mountain.”
But they are mistaken.
The mountain is a
wild thing
to be bridled.
No, Love is the climber.
Love chooses to say,
“When it is harder to love you,
I will love you harder.”

kelly r. baum
Kelly is an east coast girl, raising her son and daughter alongside her husband in New Jersey. Kelly pours her creative energy into writing and graphic design, being the author of numerous women's and children's Christian devotionals, and most recently exploring the art of digital collages. For more of Kelly's art, follow on Instagram @slimplykellyrose.
Images provided by Kelly R. Baum.