Love Poem: The Top of the Stairs
Jill Martin Avatar
Written by: Jill Martin

The Top of the Stairs

Spiraling into misty dark
twisting invitation to rise above
what awaits at the top of the stairs
wispy sighs slinky down on steps
one . . .
     and more

confining moldy walls press
closer
little explosions of panic
skitter across her mind
     even as
her quivering hand reaches for the stair rail
and one foot
steps up and up . . .
     as she tries to resist

a push from behind quickens her pace
     even as
she drags her toes
over the steps

her mind fogs with panic
     goes away
her feet move of their own will
     upward
toward the sighs coming
     to meet one step more . . .

another insistent bump from behind
and she trips, falls on both knees
bloody
     even as
she stands and runs
     upward
twisting stairs
     blindly insane with terror

malevolence tugs tugs
pulls
labors
     even as
she spirals upward
closer
     sighs ever more audible
musical
     inviting

it comes . . . . it comes

     even so
an immense power snatches her
     yanks her
          swipes her ~
                           enfolds her.
~~
     embraces her
          calms her
                loves her
she opens her eyes
and sees below . . .
There.
     hell bound
it screeches
burning in its own evil

as she flies cradled in the wings 
     of an angel
from the top of the stairs