Packing on the Years

I descend painfully

to the 21^st bottom step

one foot at a time

on the stairway

cautious as a butterfly

scenting a buttercup-

each step befriending

the other one

with none skipping

over the other-

heavy on my walking stick

(some call it a cane)

I want to prove

each time I try

I can make it to the end

with Jesus at my side.