Climb the Steps

submerged in mental medium
viscous and resistant
light and life are viewed
warped and distorted
holding breath at depth
tread water submerged current
or take hold of the steps
daily practice and daring
to reach beyond deception
of lensed limitation
strength to reach out and climb
through suffering and suffocation
detach from drowning identity
find will to use the tools the steps
each day you will rise
another rung closer to freedom
to move and flow without
this medium of reason
that magnifies complication
to shed this weight of “could haves”
that fuses you to your failures
grasp hold the steps
meditate and reflect to generate
new meaning and identity
to let go of tangling kelp
self-condemnation and shame
that would bind you to the bottom
rise
climb
one step at a time through practice
to reach freedom and light
climb methodically from
the prison of the mind