Climb Another, Rung

Clings to the ladder, reaches

for another rung

a child mewling and puking

in the words of good Shakespeare,

cautious fingers grasping

at this new direction, up and away.

Each upward move earns steps

in life, mobility

a simple directive, now

for the next perpendicular

strand of aluminum appendage.

He becomes a person with

teenage fingers

bopping with excitement

respite from the iPod

knowing rungs lead somewhere

a braggadocio---muscled

body moving up, 

sureness is a hurrying step.

The rungs represent climbs in life

reaching a testimony

of faith where stages of living is

in the climbing:

older age slows in its reach

tooth and limb an arthritic ache

got to keep going, a

poke in the ass from his

wife spurs him on.