Rob Schackne #907 - Remembering The Stairs (redux)

Remembering The Stairs

                     for Julie Pendleton

I grew old and winded

stairs reminded me of swings

of rhythm and raucous play

and once or twice a hard fall

up or down it doesn’t matter

the sums of toil I remember

the sum of each laboured step

the tremble on each landing

I see a prehistoric fish in a net

strong hands catch my breath

for the exit & entry at the end

there's a door I’ll need to unlock

fumbling with a girl’s memory

for a key I once had but lost

my gasping heart bursting

finally for summit flowers.