The ladder leans on our wall br we clamber rather than fall br as snakes to the pit br we flit br from dark to lighter br shadow fighters br springing from rung to sprung br until the autumn of our metaphors br br The ladder needs our wall br or it could not point vaguely br skywards br its resistance to crawl br makes the arms stronger br to ward off longer br melancholy br br To walk under the metaphor br invites what for br absolute beginners br could be the hell br of the physical br br Better climb the eternal br stairway to leaven br our daily breadbr br William Pryorbr br