ArtYou are The mystery philosophiæThe principia quotient ofMusic's quantum mathematicsYou areUnto yourself(Art)You are The rhythmic meter, compelling meTo move and dance in symphony With numbers set to infinity You areUnto yourself(Art)You are The vertical measuring barThat causes my poetic heart To beat in the "now-now" time signatureYou areUnto yourself(Art)Excerpt from:'Jacob's Ascent, New Collected poems by Mekael'© Mekael Shane 2019

I am always humbled when my countrymen thank me for having served in the military. It humbles me because the honor of having served them, is mine.

One of the most beautiful sounds in the world, is hearing your child or children call you Dad.

I was born to live, in pursuit of the penultimate high.I am guaranteed a Homeric death, when it's my time to die.

And if some day, my sons ask, "Dad, why did you choose to climb?" Smiling, I'll reply, I climbed so you could fly.

Africa isMy parentage .... this placeIs not my homeI abideIn a land designed .... by men Who hate my 'toneMay the blood of my antecedentsBless my seed .... and may it be Their defenseAnd may that bloodForever protect.... their truth And their innocence*Excerpt from:Jacob's Ascent,New Collected Poems by Mekael© Mekael Shane, 2019

It was during my first expedition on Everest, that I first experienced the Puja. The word Puja is a Sanskrit word, Pūjā, and it means, "The worship of a particular God or Goddess." In our case, our Puja was in honor of Sagarmatha. Sagarmatha is the Nepalese name for Everest. We were beseeching her, asking her for not just a safe climb, but thanking her for allowing us an audience. Not trying to sound clichéd, but it was a transcendently beautiful experience.

Thinking about my grandparents and my parents. My aunts, uncles, cousins, coaches, mentors and teachers. Everyone who had a hand in teaching me, hewing me, shaping me and empowering me, and I am overwhelmed by the knowledge that, I am the very reason, they ever existed at all.

I would love to live in a world where men don't think it's our birthright, to tell women what they can and cannot do with their fucking bodies. Imagine what would happen if women went about the business of telling men what we can and cannot do with our bodies. We'd respond with savagery.

There are times in life, when you just have to say fuck it.