Saturday 19 April 2014

The Staircase


The staircase 
appears
one day
bursts 
through
the middle
of Mrs Weinstein’s
pampas grass.
First one step 
sprouts 
then two.
It grows
towards
the sky.
By the end 
of the week
it has reached 
the sun.
No one knows 
what 
to do.
Then Benny 
her eldest 
starts 
selling tickets.
He has 
a fortune
to accrue.

What’s up there 
neighbours ask.
End of the world 
he replies.
I’d get there first 
if I were 
you.
To boost sales 
up he goes
with nothing 
but
a jacket and
a bagel 
or two.
From the street 
they watch
as he coils 
into 
the blue
becomes a speck 
disappears.
Suddenly 
everyone 
wants a ticket
wants to follow 
too.
So Jake
the second son
takes over 
family trade
he doesn’t want it
to fall 
through.

What’s up there 
neighbours ask.
Rubix the collie 
Grandpa Max
Grandma Sue.
He says, 
I’d get there first 
if I were 
you.
The street
is one big
spiralling 
queue,
caterers set up 
a marquee
offer fresh 
baked bread 
and stew.
Reporters
bring their own
news crew  
ask Jake:
Are you 
the brother 
of the hero guy
who pioneered
into the sky?
That’s all Jake 
needs to hear
to get him up 
those stairs 
too.

What’s up there
neighbours ask.
But Mo
the youngest
prefers his dreams
has no mind 
for ticket schemes.
Most of the street
he says.
My brothers 
too. 
Other than that
I haven’t
a clue.
He says, 
I’d go home 
if I were 
you.
When they insist,
he let’s them 
travel free.
And off they go
in two’s 
and threes.
Kids rest 
on shoulders 
sleeves flap
like wings 
in the breeze.

So many 
people 
walk 
into the sky.
None return
from out of
that blue.
I shouldn’t 
have taken up 
gardening,
Mrs Weinstein
cries.
I think my heart 
will break 
in two.



2 comments:

  1. great one - i love it

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Moon! I was inspired by your long lean poem, The Spinning.

    ReplyDelete