Underway

We must always start down in the earth,

The soft, yielding earth that our footprints sink into,

The obdurate earth that pick-axes strain to dent,

The trembling earth, like a heart annihilated,

The steady earth, a seismic flatline

The thirsty earth, the sodden earth--

The pendulum of deprivation & abundance. 

The aching earth that listens to our footsteps & 

holds their beat in its deep abiding quiet. 

Bated breath, then a gush of exhale. 

So much holding. The surprising flood of release. 

Everything is always underway. Under, our way. 

Leading us up these muddy rungs--and suddenly--- 

Sky.