There is another world above this one; or outside of this one; the
way to it is thru the smoke of this one, & the hole that smoke
goes through. The ladder is the way through the smoke hole; the
ladder holds up, some say, the world above; it might have been
a tree or a hole; I think it is merely a way.

Fire is at the foot of the ladder. The fire is in the center. The walls
are round. There is another world below or inside this one.
The way there is down thru smoke. It is not necessary to think
of a series.

Excerpt of Through the Smoke Hole by Gary Snyder