Jacob <br />never climbed the ladder <br />burning in his dream. Sleep <br />pressed him like a stone <br />in the dust, <br />and when <br />he should have risen <br />like a flame to join <br />that choir, he was sick <br />of travelling, <br />and closed <br />his eyes to the Seraphim <br />ascending, unconscious <br />of the impossible distances <br />between their steps, <br />missed <br />them mount the brilliant <br />ladder, slowly disappearing <br />into the scattered light <br />between the stars, <br />slept <br />through it all, a stone <br />upon a stone pillow, <br />shivering, Gravity <br />always greater than desire.<br /><br />Dana Gioia<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-burning-ladder/
