Grey Poem by D.A. Woods

Grounded here outside 'Our Lives' elevator.
I've been waiting what feels an eternity for the man to come to fix it so I can move again.
But all I see is a barrier stating out of order, just the same as every day that's passed, the 'Maintenance Team are on their way.

There's no way out, just a stairwell to the left, a stairwell to the right,
one takes me downwards into darkness the other up where there's light.
The stairs aren't there for me to climb up. Nothinging.

Head in my hands, I begin to cry.
Only one way I can go and it's a short way down into the dark,
once there, it's a long climb back up.
Years it took me to get up out of that stairwell,
and here I am, stuck here all by myself.
Can't take the repititious sign and it's neon lies.
I'm stuck here, I'm going down.

I pick myself up and take my first step.
Then I saw myself pass me heading upwards,
I moved to the left, I moved to the right,
to avoid myself and watched as the stairs appeared leading to the light for him.

I tried to run back up to see where I'd gone.
Just then the stairs turned into a slide,
I went spiralling down, to were I escaped from.
Trapped until another time.

There's a stairwell to my left, a stairwell to the right,
one will take me to the darkness where the fires burn, the other which has light, no stairs, just a sign stating 'out of order'.

I've been where the fires of pain, misery and despair are and I don't want to go back again.
The good has gone, something inside tells me what remains can't run and no longer hide.
Part of me has gone, maybe died,
because now lifes elevator has a new sign for me,
'Access Denied'.