Journeys and Climbing Symbol Analysis

This final prayer is made, O dearest Lord,
not for ourselves (we now have no such need).
We speak for those behind us, who’ve remained.’

Then praying, for themselves and us, ‘God speed’,
these shadows made their way beneath such loads
as sometimes in our nightmares can be seen. […]

We surely ought to help them cleanse the marks
that they bore hence – till, light in weight and pure,
they’ve power to rise towards the wheeling stars.

We were, by now, ascending that great stair.
And I, it seemed, was lighter now by far
than I had seemed while still on level ground.

So, ‘Tell me, sir,’ I said, ‘what weight has now
been lifted from me, so I almost feel
no strain at all in walking on my way?’

He answered: ‘When the “P”s that mark your brow,
remaining still, though growing now more faint,
have all (as is the first) been sheared away,

your steps will then be conquered by good will
and, being thus impelled towards the heights,
will feel no strain but only sheer delight.’

Tremors strike here when any soul feels pure
and rises, newly cleansed, to start its climb.
And that cry follows as the soul ascends.

The will alone gives proof of purity
when, wholly free to change its sacred place,
it aids and sweeps the soul up, willing well.

However, since these pages now are full,
prepared by rights to take the second song,
the reins of art won’t let me pass beyond.

I came back from that holiest of waves
remade, refreshed as any new tree is,
renewed, refreshed with foliage anew,

pure and prepared to rise towards the stars.