Stairway To Heaven

I wanted to build a stairway to heaven -
a reverent rising to make life complete -
but discovered the stairway was in my head;
and I needed to bring it beneath my feet.

For if mind and matter were set beneath me,
if pomp and pageantry were silent and still,
I could climb the steps that would lead to freedom
if only the heart would envelop the will.

There are nebulous stars and constellations
and hidden galaxies suspended in space;
and I must use them to construct that stairway,
the steps within the eyes of a wizened face.

For God's breath is blowing between the waters.
His lips are playing the woodwind of my soul;
and when no breath is to be left within me,
it is His breath of Life that blows through the hole.

The wings of love have been hidden within me.
I may fly to heaven if I so desire;
and my heart is the roof from which I must jump
to land in the hands that will lift me higher.

So I walk across stars to meet my maker -
the reflection of truth appears in the sky;
and the spirit of joy is flapping its wings
in the circle of life that will never die.

Reviews

[FlawedByDesign]

I'll admit this poem did not grab me with its story.
Your structure and rhyme are great as always :) but the topic at hand (while a powerful one - gears behind our lives should be come to accept and realize our futility and the hope that may, or may not, await us in the afterlife) lacked the *oomph of your other poems and did not draw me in.

Well done.

[Dinesh Sairam]

Let me tell the negatives first. No offense, but the 4th stanza could be altered. I mean, this is a beautiful poem about one's peace and realization. And some of them don't believe in 'God' (Not me, I believe in an unearthly power. People named it 'God'.). So, I suggest you see to that (To make the poem more appealing to everyone). Well, I have nothing more negative.

This again, is going into my favorites. I've hardly written poems of Faith or Hope. But when I see other poets do that, I go 'Awwwhh' :D But I just can't get one out of my mind :P This is a heavily inspiring poem, might as well make some readers feel better and that's a blessing bestowed on you :) Very very well done :)

Keep writing :)

[the_stoic]

i am kinda atheist and so it becomes difficult for me to truely feel the essence of your write .. but it surely weaves magic as if there is a tune playing in the background ..

[Mark]

To accept one's right to exist within the Eternal, and the responsibilities incurred with that right, is an awareness too rarely found these days. It seems most everybody eith feels they have no righte, or the converse, that they have all rights, yet NEITHER is willing to do their part to assure continuity within the larger system! This is a very thought-provoking and inspiring piece, Linda. Thank you!

[Wildecat]

A wonderful poem, ones imagination can really inspire some beautiful writing. Well done.