Little by Slowly
November, 2016
I inch upward
little by slowly
from this ledge
near bottom
in this abyss
where earth gave way beneath me--
dropping further than I thought my land could drop.
I look up,
see a climb that will outlive me,
take notice in the dim
of varied walls and sides surrounding:
good sides,
bad sides,
sides with sheared and slippery walls,
sides where I could sculpt and garden,
sides where (little by slowly)
others climb.
They rise from below me.
They lead the way--way above me.
They pause alone to sculpt and
garden.
I shall climb to those nearby:
to those who will outlive abyss,
to those who will pull and push my old bones,
to those who need my stubbornness,
and to those who will feast from my memory
of what was earth above
before collapse.
November, 2020
Despite shrinking time and diminished strength,
I have returned
from the abyss where earth gave way beneath me--
from where I looked up
to a climb I expected to outlive me.
There were shadows and voices
rising from below,
clinging above.
Sunken-but-strong
they would soothe then scold,
come then go,
pull then push.
They would ask then remind
of my memory
of what was earth before collapse.
Little by slowly,
(so little so slowly)
(remote then sudden)
at brink
onto edge
I stand to see
beyond abyss
the great expanse
where
(both changed)
(both enhanced)
reality and memory now dance.
5 comments:
email from DMU: It expresses so much of what I feel. The earth has surely shifted beneath my feet. I do not want to think of all the effort to climb out. I guess this is the denial stage. These old bones really don't want to do that. But do I must.
email from JCK: I SO LOVE this poem! I cried, & felt hopeful & imagined me there, not alone, journeying upward.
email from KKS: Captures the hard emotions very well... I can imagine that it's really hard to feel like things are going the wrong way and that you don't have time to try to stop it. But there's still some time! Build those gardens, inspire a few, and maybe we'll climb out faster...
Facebook Comment by JBG: Beautifully expressed...it puts into words some of my feelings today. Thanks!
email from SV: Beautiful poem, Bob. Thanks for sharing. Here's to you outliving the climb.
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