Escalators

Escalators,
Something about them has always scared me
The non-stop movement
The way the steps just fall right out from under you
The short railing
And the long way down,
               As a kid many things didn’t frighten me
               Not bugs or darkness or heights,
               But the moving metal did,
               With its sharp teeth
               And quick movements and falls
                             I was never sure why,
                             But getting on and off
                             Scared me
                             Every time
                             Even as I grew older
                             It did fade
                                         But I always hesitated
                                         And moved carefully and silently
                                         And I am never silent
                                         But then I was.
                                         When “she died,”
                                                     I didn't know how yet
                                                     But a million things came to my mind
                                                     and not a single one made it to my mouth,
                                                     And when one finally did I was met with the answer
                                                     Escalator.
                                                                  Those moving metal stairs
                                                                   In the air
                                                                   Over that short railing
                                                                   And the land fell out from under her




                                                                                And she caught up to it 34 feet later.

This poem is written about someone who was very dear to me, who died falling 34 feet off of an escalator. Her name was Jenny and this poem is dedicated to her. Written February, 2017.