The Ascent

On my roof lies a ladder --
aluminum ten footer,
extendable to twenty.

I keep it chained to the rain spout
as Eternity Insurance,
for the day when God
splits the sky
and millions rise in Rapture.

Left behind for the Rain of Fire,
I'll unchain the bottom rung,
raise the ladder,
double its height,
and climb.

Twenty feet is tall enough --
when I reach the highest rung,
the whole thing'll swing
bottom to top
with me at the pivot --
I'll go right-side-up
to upside-down.

Twenty steps down toward Heaven,
and the ladder will flip again.

I'll climb toward forever,
up, down, up, down,
each foothold
bringing me nearer
God's burning face.

Scott Speck
04/29/2000