Strength is Everything

They tell you strength is everything 
you need 
to pull yourself to the top 
by half-inches. 
Maybe it is. 
Maybe strength is everything 
in their uniformed 
march-together madness 
of a heartbeat. 

Strength cements your hands 
to the grey-scarred rock 
slowly, slowly, never slow 
enough. 
And like puzzle pieces 
spilled out of a box 
the spirits that once 
shouted freedom 
fall together under 
a common banner, 
a common goal 
of blindness. 

It takes strength 
to climb the wall built 
by tradition, 
but it takes courage 
to let go 
and push off on your own, 
even though the sun 
is choked with clouds 
and the rock grows 
shadowy with disapproval. 
Strength keeps your hands 
steady. 
Courage guides the wings 
you didn't know you had 
as you maneuver yourself 
in search of your own 
ending 
and laugh at the old 
photographs of you 
on their fossilized 
flypaper, 
their wall.