Self Discovery

Flat on her stomach, All her limbs aching, Inch by inch forward she squeezed Through the long crawl, That tight wet tunnel, Not knowing whether, If she got stuck, She could ever return To her home. Brave girl! Eileen! Yet the breeze in her face Told the tale of a cavern beyond, And spurred her on Through that limestone worm-hole. When she broke through She became the first to witness The natural wonder of the cloud chamber. What ecstasy of heaven Enwrapped her tired frame And lifted up her eyes Towards a cloud of stalactites Formed of a thousand narrow needles Through many calcifying Centuries of time. And she the very first To enter that uplifting chamber. Perhaps she thought how deeply We must burrow to witness And expose great beauty.