“The carefulness was wearing us out.”
-Jeanette Winterson, Written On the Body
Each step is difficult,
at least for me,
along this closed trail.
The rocks, sharp and loose,
could cause me to stumble
then fall forever toward
the broken boulders below.
So, we pick our way slowly,
testing each half-step
for a solidity to base a belief:
in the direction we follow;
in the next turn of phrase;
in the next switch-back
lifting our conversations.