In The Elevator-Benjamin Nardolilli
In The Elevator
By Benjamin Nardolilli
Here, everyone decides
To open their jaws,
Let them fall to the ground:
The mechanical air of the rising box
Flowing in and out,
There are some that you see
OPEN WIDE and take in everyone,
They are ready to bite, to tear
Us to pieces and chew the wooden walls
Until the iron ropes are visible.
There is always one, maybe two
Usually two, always two,
Sometimes three, who chew:
They open their jaws
For a stick of gum
And lick their teeth and lips
Making themselves minty fresh,
They chew and smack, chew and smack
Each one in a race with the other.
Some have jaws open, lips
Passionately spread out and tongues
Poking through the empty whole
To make words with no sound,
They move their jaws to sing,
To mimic the voice of the canary,
They have trapped inside a plastic box.
Some are tired and just yawn,
Waiting for their floor, I know,
I am one of them.
Copyright C. 2008 Benjamin Nardolilli