Quake Labyrinth
We climbed stairs to the landing,
and a door, but it was jammed.
Another de-construct
of earthquake that knocked down half
a building here, dissolved
some walls, left others standing, and jammed
this door. Beyond, a long bare
corridor with countless open doors.
The secret lives of offices
past closing, one night watchman
making his rounds. Where
did the quake catch him?
Pry open that jammed
door, the whole human structure
might fall down. But a dog
is license and language of her own.
Open sesame, she wriggled
through. Door by cor-
ridor – a slat of light
let us watch her disappear;
back into view, diminishing, progressing
methodically room by
room through every door. At last
she came back.
No one there. So much
labyrinth
beyond
what was not a door.
~ Taylor Graham
from Uplift (www.coldriverpress.org)