Patrick Dennis - Flesh Will Fail

Failure is the spur
that smarts the hero's flanks
and drives him on
to spirit: his second wind.

Failure preludes the falling
deep-down-drowned;
and presages the cleansing
the rising up
and the ecstasy of air.

Failure goes where nothing
nothing else will go -
beyond the deed, all will and want -
and takes him impossible-pressured down
and strong - strong if he go -
down, deep down to ride the rebound
the resurrection and the life.

Patrick Dennis

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/flesh-will-fail/