Journey Up

The journey up
to where you want to go
is not a straight line,
or even a steady grade.
You go around corners,
crossing the path you’ve taken,
able to look back down
to where you’ve been
but not quite up
to where you want to go.
The best you can do
is hold on to a general sense
of direction,
counting the steps
for morale,
keeping towards the light.
as best you can.
The hall lantern may be lit,
or dark,
so you need a little faith
that those sloping ceilings
cobwebs,
whatever grows in those dusty corners
won’t get in your way,
because you really have no choice.
Going back down
is not an option
and the steps,
though uneven, rough
and steep,
will eventually
take you where
you need to go.