From the beginning,
We seek to control.
It is what we desire.
Success in this endeavor,
Shapes and guides us.
It is what we desire.
The more we control,
The further we rise.
It is what we desire.
Manipulation and domination,
Soon become our goal.
It is what we desire.
The ladder rises higher,
And we continue to climb.
It is what we desire.
We cannot climb forever, though.
Eventually, we must look down.
It is what we desire.
Below we see that each rung we climbed,
Was the apex of another’s ladder.
Was this what we desired?
Do we continue to climb,
Or do we ask ourselves:
What do I desire?
by Cody McCullough
Cody McCullough Writes: 
Great poem!
Thank you for liking my poem.
This is really great! I love “The more we control, the further we rise.” So good!
Thank you. Before I publish each poem, I typically worry excessively about how it will be perceived. When I read a great comment like yours, my nerves are at ease.
I do the same thing! Keep up the good work! 🙂
very well said. it is true – we must eventually look down.
Thank you for commenting on my poem.
Wonderful questions here and the press of the cadence works very well. k.
Thank you for your comment. Good comments always cheer me up.
As always, your poem captivates me and changes some of my perspective in life. Great!
Thank you for your wonderful comment. It makes me feel good to know that people like my poetry.
Thank you also for the inspiration. Keep it coming…
Cody, keep going buddy! I like the crisp and straightforwardness of your verse as it comes across to someone whose english is the second language. Nice work!
Thank you for your support. Suddenly, I feel like I’m running a marathon. My poems are already written, but posting them on WordPress is turning into a lot of work. I’m glad, though, that people like my work.
Brings to mind the ladder imagery in Julius Caesar (A2S1:L21-27):
“…But ’tis common proof
That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder,
Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;
But when he once attains the upmost round
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks into the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend.”
But yours is unique in 1) the connection to ‘desire’; 2) in how when we reach the summit, we may find yet more ladders of desire to climb; and 3) the reflexive questioning: ‘what is it we desire?’ (- i.e what is the Truth?)
Excellent! Loved this! 🙂
Thank you for your comment. I’m glad you brought up Julius Caesar, as I allude to him in later poems. I’m glad you liked my work.
Really dug this one. Awesome.
I’m glad that you liked my poem. Sometimes I worry excessively that no one will like my work. It feels good to read a positive comment like yours.