Sneakers

the scuffed sneakers pounded two steps at a time
up the stairs they loudly squeaked
as through the pungent stairwell shrieked
wails of twisting feet

round and round the sneakers mounted
'twixt the spiral rails of home
the blackened walls of disrepair
betrayed small furtive eyes

up to the heights the sneakers climbed
beyond the reach of distant chimes
so that the silence laid its claim
amidst the tears of one boy's cries

the scuffed sneakers rested, far from pain's pursuit
poised for flight they listened, prepared to flee again
the yelling down below echoed out his name
dialing 911, the boy repeated the same

14 March 2007 by Glen Alan Woods