walking up stairs

"The Act of Stepping"

I met you on a precipice
My presence there displaced your air
You fell
Our we persists in these
my trailed attempts to catch you
as you tumble.

I grasp your knuckles
clasp your curves
extract you from the slope
dusting mountains from your body
I hoist you to your feet
and I walk you up stairs

as you explain we're friends
now. And then I implore
I fear I'm here for more.

You lose your breath
We lose our footing
I fall
with you this time
Now you
must catch me.

You
de-
lay.

I bruise from the impacts
but scar from the waiting.
I reach out fingers farther
to remind you
hold me. Now

you spindle silk skin through my palm
lying polished on your tummy
whisper stay
and fail to notice
as you loosen grip
I speechless
slip away.