Elevator

the frames of this electronic door shone
as the bell rang
two discordant notes.

open [ ]
*going up*
people poured out
from the open
door and it was empty again.
I entered, pressed 23
and [>l<]. closed.
slowly, automatically...
the door seemed reluctant.
**please stand clear of the closing
door**
a hand appeared between the opening
just before the door
closed
completely, the hand forced
the door to open up. It revealed
a man in a dark suit
accompanied by five people,
his officemates perhaps.
They entered, rather noisily;
he pressed 17 and
[>l<].
the elevator opens
and accepts--then closes
**please stand clear of the closing
door**
closed.
I ascended, through this enclosure
pulled by taut cables. i am
moving towards the apex—
pulled against gravity
by electricity—strong wires
like the hands of time
unable to let go—
towards my destination:
twenty-third floor.

*seventeenth floor*
the elevator opens and lets go
then closes. i am left
to stand by the corner of the elevator.
**please stand clear of the closing
door**

*eighteenth floor*
[ ] open
two unnamed faces and Danielle join me
in this corner of the universe
as i ascend and defy
gravity, Danielle stands
beside me and shakes my hand.
meanwhile the other two girls talk
about how late they are
for work. they press 22
and [>l<]. **please stand clear of the closing
door**

Danielle and I talk about the weather, the traffic
and friends long lost or gone. I lean
on the wall to my left and watch
the screen display the floor number
we are passing by.

nineteen
showed the screen in yellow, up
we went without
stopping by.

*twentieth floor*
[ ] open...nobody's there. the elevator
is waiting
for someone to run in
and enter. we are waiting
for the door
to close. [>l<]
Danielle looked
at her watch uneasily.
"7:07 am Have a nice day!" shows
on the elevator screen.
**please stand clear
of the closing door**

*twenty-first floor*
pointed heels stabbed
the elevator floor as the two ladies
walked into the open
door and left me behind
with Danielle inside.
**please stand
clear of the closing
door**

Danielle walks towards the door
even before the
*twenty-second floor*
she took one last look
at her wrist watch
press [ ] hurriedly,
anxiously, stormed out of the elevator
in steps that could have sent the elevator back
to the ground floor. “see yah
whenever…” she remembered to take
a last glance at me before
the door closed. [>l<] **please
stand clear of
the closing door**

*twenty-third floor*
[ ] open door

here I am.
*please
i step out
stand
without a last glance—out
clear
into the twenty-third floor.
of the closing door*