The stairs sleep br in the moonlight br br (haunted by shadows br & the ghost of shadows) . br br They go neither br up...nor...down. br br The stairs dream of stillness br br of being br perfectly still br br in a world without br ...footfall. br br And yet: my footsteps br awaken it br br and it is compelled br to resume being a stairs br br taking me up br to an attic window br br with a broken latch br twisted shut with twine br & a tangled clothes hanger br br where a moon br floats across its pane br br as if drowned br & I br br cry br br at the absence br of you.