Continuity Poem by Maria Barnas

The girl ascends the staircase. The girl ascends the staircase with steps
that jostle into a curve at the top. She keeps on walking

despite the fact that she can't change anything.

We get a glimpse of her forehead, pale skin
her hair parallel to the steps.

She looks straight ahead while ascending the staircase.

There's a girl ascending the staircase!
It could be a wig the way that hair's hanging.

She holds a parcel tightly under her arm.

There's a parcel going up the staircase the steps
a door on the stairs on the steps the ankles the girl.

She doesn't change now her toes have reached the winding steps

a fan over her head a door swings out of the dark
out of the silence in her a curve is wrung steps shoulder-high.

A girl is ascending the staircase with a reason.

Translation: 2008, Donald Gardner