From the Summit

Past lips chapped by winter's wind
breath inhaled in warm lungs end
Thoughts drift as I venture towards the peak
that whose conquering I assume to seek
To see the world as it lies below
from the summit dressed in snow
In my youth I sought out fame
yet nothing was left I could claim
Those whose means and opportunities provided
the chance for success have at times coincided
And I, a poor wretch from nowhere
from the top of the world now stare
Know now that it's what I've become
the personal victories, the battles won
My name may not ever be in the books
or the world be in love with my looks
The beautiful love of which I've dreamed
in her eyes I never was much it seemed
It's the memories I have of this life I live
the lessons learned and unto others give
Though I've come to know fear and failure well
there's a plethora of stories I collected to tell
It's not the destination that makes us strong
but the attitude we have when the journey's long