Transparent trails, tangent and convergent The man emerges, the opaque hills behind him He's begun his journey, with an optimistic stride Progressin' and displacin' Himself in the unknown He loathes the significance of his passage, and bets his humanity on the destination He's aware of the danger that lies ahead, but he knows that death's not the end He approaches whisper ridge, and begins to scale He prays that his courage will prevail A pestilent cloud, falls from the peak His blood runs cold, and his knees grow weak "I won't pay your toll, I've gone thus far I'll endure the tribulation, and advance through the dark"