Yosemite Tales and Trails (1934) by Katherine Ames Taylor

“Why climb a mountain?” queried my neighbor.
“And is the recompense worth the labor?”

My neighbor, a man who is quite content
Adventuring asphalt and cement.

Why climb a mountain? I explained first of all
That climb is a gamble, a peak is a call—

A glove in the face, from the fists of the gods;
A challenge to try, in spite of the odds.

As for reward, I mentioned the slice
Of earth under the sky, the sliver of ice—

The trophy which few have achieved, or none,
A goal the length of a shout from the sun.

I mentioned the four far corners of space,
Wind on the mouth, clouds on the face,

The blue and green sparkle of stars in snow—
My neighbor looked blank and answered me—“So?”