Poems of Progress and New Thought Pastels

<h2><SPAN name="page76"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>THE LADDER</h2> <p class="poetry">Unto each mortal who comes to earth<br/> A ladder is given by God, at birth,<br/> And up this ladder the soul must go,<br/> Step by step, from the valley below;<br/> Step by step, to the centre of space,<br/> On this ladder of lives, to the Starting Place.</p> <p class="poetry">In time departed (which yet endures)<br/> I shaped my ladder, and you shaped yours.<br/> Whatever they are&mdash;they are what we made:<br/> A ladder of light, or a ladder of shade,<br/> A ladder of love, or a hateful thing,<br/> A ladder of strength, or a wavering string.<br/> A ladder of gold, or a ladder of straw,<br/> Each is the ladder of righteous law.</p> <p class="poetry">We flung them away at the call of death,<br/> We took them again with the next life breath.<br/> For a keeper stands by the great birth gates;<br/> As each soul passes, its ladder waits.<br/> <SPAN name="page77"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>Though mine be narrow, and yours be broad,<br/> On my ladder alone can I climb to God.<br/> On your ladder alone can your feet ascend,<br/> For none may borrow, and none may lend.</p> <p class="poetry">If toil and trouble and pain are found,<br/> Twisted and corded, to form each round,<br/> If rusted iron or mouldering wood<br/> Is the fragile frame, you must make it good.<br/> You must build it over and fashion it strong,<br/> Though the task be hard as your life is long;<br/> For up this ladder the pathway leads<br/> To earthly pleasures and spirit needs;<br/> And all that may come in another way<br/> Shall be but illusion, and will not stay.</p> <p class="poetry">In useless effort, then, waste no time;<br/> Rebuild your ladder, and climb and climb.</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />