The Ladders

everything is
laddering from
high sacred to low
profane one drink
is the first rung to
the long way down
oblivion one bad
night of sex the self-
abasing edge of
whoredom one 
large meal one stuffed
intestine is the
fullness of gluttony the
one distended rung
the hand slips on swallowing
see the top rung just
over the edge light-
wooded of shaved
ash smooth to the touch
give it the light caress
and find the climb down 
easy as pie - four and
twenty blackbirds singing
tasty dishes to set before
a king

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