Elevator

Elevator

by M. F. B. Porter

Ding.

I walk on, surrounded by people

Who look more or less

Like me

Shhh.  

The door slides shut

And my stomach lurches,

My heart goes cold

Down, down,

Down

Ding.

The door opens again, and

Someone new steps on,

Like me

Shhh.

My blood turns to ice and

My throat goes dry

As we go

Down, down

Down

Ding.

Ding, shhh, down.

The descending ride was uncomfortable, but simple; easy.
The climb back up would be

Much harder.