Saturday, March 24, 2018

Climb Every Mountain


When I introduce a prompt to my classes, I know one thing: I'm going to be surprised by the results.

This intriguing piece by Deborah Lee was inspired by a Chinese proverb:
A dying leopard leaves his skin; a dying man his name.


A Dying Man Leaves His Name
by Deborah Lee

The man in the story is fading. The woman beside him knows his name, but the mountain in the distance does not, even though he has left many a footprint on its face.

The woman has walked the mountain with him as they climbed in the snow, up one side and down the other.

He lies in a hammock, no mosquito netting needed today. They would have walked all over his face, drawing his blood.

They would have a part of him, but not his name.



About the author: Deborah Lee loves to sing, struggles with playing guitar, and enjoys writing essays, songs, and memoir. 


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