Steps

hirty-six steps this corridor
in this darkened quiet mausoleum of medicine
midnight, disinfected ignominy of waiting in expectancy
I feel like I am awaiting a storm in cosmic negative;
soon, the sunstorm-cloud will drop a deluge of syrup light
into the wet grey of living hastily
her arrival is the spirit-springtime.

Nineteen steps to chaos
through a throng of carnal carnival workers
resplendent in their sea-colors; step right up and see
but only if you are garbed as we
you see, time is mercurial in velocity when fear strikes
one minute burns instantly, the next a slow fuse
the love-bearer seeks your comfort; your courage in transfusion
I feel like a curved-horned herd king
with the yellow lightning of fear arcing point to point
his arrival is harvest joy

Fifty-one steps to calmness
up into the tower of joy, deliberate
all are silent here; the morning hasn't rolled over
in dark stillness of damphaired, hushed happy-think
my spirit arrives in effigy; defiant
her black wings brush my face and I smile
Inside me it is summery christmas