not knowing its length
or how much strength
there hung.

Backward and forward
past into future
I climbed

higher and higher
despair and desire
combined.

Farther and farther
no present to bother
my flight

above now and here
beyond loss and fear
upright.

Ah, this was the way
to trap time and stay
its dread

yes, twisted inside
then knotted and tied
instead!

For being was this
both height and abyss
outflung

the head free of reason
the heart without season
full sprung.

Not creeping by squirm
an inch measured worm
begrimed