Is this My Stairway to Heaven?

A shadow on a neighbour’s wall got me thinking

Photo by Evi Kalemi on Unsplash

A moment on the wall outside
a refracted light
transforms Stefania’s balustrade
to stairs creeping up
a wall of her puffed &
insulated house. Is this
the Stairway to Heaven
of my youth — a rock
to build on — a song in shadow
form to grease the hard
climb of character & merit?
How often I fail to be a
good man — as shrinkage
comes I don’t rate my chances.
Yet — look long term & I can
see how I passed the baton on
to you three children
down another stairwell to your
little ones — really a step up.
We must grow down
before we grow up.
Perhaps I still descend & only
hubris says otherwise.

Copyright Simon Heathcote

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