Candles on the Path

I cleaned gutters today
removed the leaves and debris that blocked the flow of water
cleaned areas where stagnation and backup occurred
where if i had not water would seep into walls and roofs
slowly rotting what lay beneath, growing mold
until all was in decay, slowly collapsing and clogging the breath.

I cleaned gutters today
removing what blew in but did not belong.

I climbed up onto a ladder
facing my fears, for of ladders I am afraid.
Afraid of soaring to new heights
that when I rise above, it will slip out from under me
and I will fall with nothing for support.

I started in the easiest place
just stretching myself a little bit -
a place where the roof was low and the ladder stood on solid ground
a place where I could reach upwards without climbing to the highest rung.
As I did  my confidence increased
and i moved to areas where I had to both climb higher and reach out even more for what i needed to grasp.

I moved the ladder to areas of more uncertain terrain
where the land was uneven
where bushes and obstacles stood in the way
where that which I stood upon wobbled a bit.
I breathed deep and continued to climb
removing more of the leafs and twigs that were trapped inside.
Still areas remained that i could not reach from below.

So i went out onto the roof -
a low roof with a fairly flat pitch
and while it might not sound like much
it was a step
for of roofs I am uncertain
had learned to be afraid

“Don’t step too close to the edge
Be Careful!
You might fall!
Fall hard onto the ground.
You might get hurt!
and break your bones”

No one said anything about getting up again
and healing the wounds.

But i climbed through a window onto the roof
and as gutters hang down just beyond the edge i made my way there
crawling at first like a young child
moving slowly with great uncertainty until i was there
sat on my butt, bracing myself
and leaned forward to grab out a clump of debris.

It was so much easier from up above that from down below
i smiled and grabbed out the clutter 
and then i stood up
I walked around and enjoyed the view
went over to the other side
and finished the job.

I sit on the roof and write
though the winds now blow
leafs removed from my gutters
and life does flow.
The gutters are not perfectly clean
for i know that more leafs will fall
if not now, then next year
ice may clog the drains in the coming season
but the ice will melt
and i will clean the gutters once again.