Tiger Leaping Gorge: Poetic Interlude

Midway along the journey of our hike, 

We found ourselves at a waterfall, 

Which was placed e'er along our path.

And lo! Almost where the bend receded, 

A goat light and swift exceedingly, 

Which bleated e'er aggressively!

He seemed as if against me he were coming

With head uplifted, and with ravenous hunger, 

So that it seemed the air was afraid of him.

And never moved he from before my face, 

Nay, rather did impede so much my way, 

That I for fear turned back to my companion.

"Behold the beast, for which I have turned back; 

Do thou protect me from him, companion-mine, 

For he doth make my veins and pulses tremble."

"Thee it behoves to face this challenge directly"

Responded she, when she beheld me quivering, 

"If from this savage beast thou wouldst escape;

Because this sheep, at which thou criest out,

Must surely bleet far louder than it bites, 

Thy must fearlessly bound across these rocks, and confront him as Mamma Naxi would."

And I to she: "Cary, I thee entreat 

By that love for food which we both adore, 

So that we may escape this woe and worse, 

Thou wouldst encourage me as I chase our foe away, 

That I may see a clean shower a few hours hence.

And dine to ever our hearts' content."

Thus I leaped on, and she behind me followed.

*Disclaimer: Both the inspiration for this "poem" and many of its lines are directly derived from Canto I of Dante's Inferno. 

Thank you, Dante. You are the Virgil to my... well... Dante.