This obstinate stumbling over uneven ground,
of what has been crossed, and crossed before,
is how the turtle trudges back to the stream.
So driven to complete the task, the repetition
of familiar pain is soon forgotten. The weight
of the painted armor a burden now worth bearing.
We too continue our graceless dance toward
an unknown current, into which we always tumble.
Burnished by the water, we are lost in the stream.
–
Philip Venzke grew up on a dairy farm near Colby, Wisconsin. His poetry is widely published in magazines throughout the U.S. and Europe. He is the author of several poetry chapbooks.
© 2025, Philip Venzke
Halfway Down the Stairs 