The Staircase Divided
(imitation Frost)
Two staircases stood where there was but one,
And looking at what was a single flight
Of stairs just yesterday, I stood stunned
And wondered what I could have possibly done
Had I not gone to bed early last night;
Then gripped the railing, as tight as a vice,
And pulled myself up the new divide,
Because it was shiny and just too nice;
Though no doubt stairs would have sufficed,
Had they been left standing whole and wide.
And both right and left halves equally shined
As if overnight freshly swept and buffed.
Oh, I left half-things of the world behind!
Yet musing how age makes one narrow one’s mind,
I doubted the whole would remain enough.
I shall recount from time to time
This tale to progeny left and right:
How everything split into halves, and I’m—
I’m still on that staircase divider climb,
And there is never a landing in sight.
9 декабря 2020 г.