39 steps
and still climbing
this is the iron path
you can’t walk past
boy walks near and must
go
up
and
count them
1, 2, 3, 4…
hand on the rail
feeling paint chips
fly into the wind
how many are there
5, 6, 7, 8…
Look ahead
trees in the tunnel walls
footsteps behind
memory echoes
with wonder
9, 10, 11, 12…
Where
but over the tracks
no trains
just a terraced hill
13, 14, 15, 16…
faint gossamar shades
in pink and smiles
come near – sometimes
this is a new way
to forget
these are new rocks to sail
toward
17, 18, 19, 20…
still further
up while down further
move ahead
Socrates awaits to teach
I wish he were straw
21, 22, 23, 24…
now comes the black-eyed heart
she’ll climb too
one step away
but
wrapped and wrapt
25, 26, 27, 28…
and there’s the boy
who started
small one – echo of myself
ride to the top
then carry my bones
29, 30, 31, 32…
ahead the dove
swings low
bread and wine
along the way
blood and water
extend this walk eternal
and a new coal child
spirit of my love
raging joy
33, 34, 35, 36…
little girl laughs
joins the chorus
dancing to the top
pentacle spectacle
we clowns of rage
we furious tricksters
moving together
37, 38, 39…
Harnessing Chaos 