The ladder of life

On the ladder of life,

I made caution my companion,

Wealth my sole goal, 

Hard work my weapon,

climbing I went.

I planned well, 

Never to fall,

Life shaping in small moments,

Yet, my sight not on them,

climbing I went

Love came and went,

So did youth and health,

I cared not for either, 

Reputation now at stake, 

climbing I went

On the last rung of the ladder,

Now that I stand all alone,

With empty hand and empty heart,

The body about to fall, yet

Climbing I went 

What have I gained, I wonder

The rungs of the ladder

Measured only my success,

They tell no stories of my soul, as

Climbing I went

I wish to tell those coming behind,

Slow down, fall sometimes,

Stay at each step a little longer, 

laugh, live, love, make no hurry, But yet

Climbing they all went!