Left to Right
After the photograph by Helen Geld, 2013

Dane Karnick


 

Sixty years of footsteps 
From basement to chapel 
This stairwell carried 

Schoolgirl weight 
Through Catholic grades 
With soul upon sole 

Squealing across wood 
In their expected march 
To home economics 

Between assigned duties 
At the laundry floor 
Or the beautician room 

How the shoes would stomp 
Row after row of legs 
In route to dressmaking 

Their physiques would echo 
With the sisters nearby 
Ready to correct errors 

Made by wayward girls 
Left to right in stride 
Along the banister 

Up and down the flight 
Of adolescence 
Struggling to keep aloft 


 
 


Picture
About the Author: Dane Karnick grew up by the Colorado “Rockies” and lives near Seattle. His poetry recently appeared in Poppy Road Review, Here/There and Bookends Review. Visit him at www.danekarnick.com.
GRAVEL