out of the deep [gnomic quatrains]

Day follows day   and night follows night
deep is the dark   and bright is the light
no one can say   from where we have come
everything's stark   yet everything's right

out of the deep   the story proceeds
out of the sleep   the dreaming is spun
who will explain   our innermost needs?
mountains are steep   the climb is not done

short are the nigits   and swift are the days
twelve are the chores   with ten yet to do
lost are the lores   obscure are the ways?
such is the plight   when nothing is true

out of the vast   the river descends
out of the past   the present yet flows
even the first   comes circled with friends
even the last   quiescently glows