Climbing the Water Tower
Susan Keith
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Poetry Contest 2009 (view all the winners)
Most Highly Commended
Climbing the water tower's ladder to see my home
Slow rung by rusty rung
Grasping the cold steel handles
Feet following hands, one beat behind
Slow rung by rusty rung
Body intent on just one more rung, not looking down
Feet following hands, one beat behind
In quiet darkness before dawn, jaw clenched, biting my tongue
Body intent on just one more rung, not looking down
Glancing up, what seemed like almost quite there isn't
in quiet darkness before dawn, jaw clenched, biting my tongue
hopeful the top will reveal something new in my little world
Glancing up, what seemed like almost quite there isn't
still, looking up again I'm closer still to the curved dome's summit
hopeful the top will reveal something new in my little world
I continue to climb as the sun touches my little town.
Still, looking up again I'm closer still to the curved dome's summit.
I turn to see my parents' peach orchard, my high school's red clay oval track
I continue to climb as the sun touches my little town
'till I pull myself up and walk on the dome.
I turn to see my parents' peach orchard, my high school's red clay oval track
Hands trembling from grasping the cold steel handles,
pulling myself up to stride atop the dome.
Climbing the water tower's ladder, I see home.
