Only in dreams is a ladder[6] thrown 25
From the weary earth to the sapphire walls;
But the dreams depart, and the vision falls,
And the Sleeper wakes on his pillow of stone.
Heaven is not reached at a single bound;
But we build the ladder by which we rise
From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies, 30
And we mount to the summit round by round.
—Holland.
[1] Gradatim. A step at a time.
[2] the common sod. earthly things.
[3] See Longfellow, The Ladder of Saint Augustine.
[4] sordid. mean; base.
[5] Good resolves and aspirations ("wings") are not sufficient. We can rise only step by step by overcoming the petty difficulties of everyday life.
[6] ladder. A reference to Jacob's ladder (Genesis xxviii, 12).