Ascend Again

Struggling, straining, striving
To make it (to the top).
Thirty feet up; halfway there.
Thirty feet down; nothing but air
Underneath to break the fall
(Until the ground).
Grip lost; found again--
Panic moment.
One thought heard:
In case of fall,
Ascend again.

Struggling, straining, striving
To keep a good (strong) hold.
Thirty feet up; halfway there.
Thirty feet down; nothing but air
Underneath to help support
(Until the ground).
Grip lost; then long gone--
Falling swiftly.
One thought heard:
In case of fall,
Ascend again.

Struggling, straining, striving
To grab something (and stop).
Thirty feet up; halfway there.
Thirty feet down; nothing but air
Underneath to stop the fall
(Until the ground).
Ground reached; pain is strong--
Crying softly.
One thought heard:
In case of fall,
Ascend again.

Struggling, straining, striving
To get up; (beat the pain).
Thirty feet up; halfway there.
Thirty feet down; nothing but air
Underneath had slowed the fall
(Until the ground).
Skin torn; muscles bruised--
Looking upward.
One thought heard:
In case of fall,
Ascend again.

Struggling, straining, striving
To make it (to the top).
Thirty feet up; halfway there.
Thirty feet down; nothing but air
Underneath to break the fall
(Until the ground).
Will strong; climbing still--
Wounded; not done.
One thought heard:
In case of fall,
Ascend again.