In reply to alan moore:
From the March 1986 edition of Climber and Rambler.
False Summits by Jim Dixon.
When middle age was 23,
And crusts might still have curled my hair,
And Mam said things were good for me,
And fun was dodgems at the fair.
It must have been about this time,
So long ago I can't be sure,
I went on my first mountain climb,
Up Dent, quite close to Cleator Moor.
But when it seemed I'd reached the top,
'Twas but the top of one more rise,
Another, yet another top,
Appeared before my weary eyes.
Dad helped me up the last few feet,
And said false summits I had seen,
He warned of others I would meet,
I've pondered since what he might mean.
Now other mountains I have climbed,
Some with perhaps a finer view,
Scafell and Cat Bells spring to mind,
I've also tried false summits too.....
Altar steps, academic dais,
And career's cloudy heights,
But since I've tried those meaner ways,
I'm sure my dad was right.
I understand now what he meant,
And in my mind's eye I recall,
That on my maiden climb of Dent,
I had the clearest view of all.
Post edited at 20:55