five flights of them
counting down, then up
the wall you touch
the railing
someone suggested a cane
a dog
as if you hadn’t thought
of those things
you who were always
a beat or two ahead
now it’s the things discarded
emptying the apartment
sorting out the pictures
“no one cares about
your vacation pictures”
the traveling over
too difficult alone
there is so much
one can’t see
so many things
a blur
you are not rude
if you don’t say hello
you just can’t distinquish
their faces
it all comes down
to what you lose
and you lose so much
these days
except your will
that stubborn strength
your laugh
in fate’s face
the stoic solo
erect in the wind
and braving the stairs
those five flights of stairs
each day