The Basement

dangerous, dank forbidden cellar
with wooden doors painted green
the trick to pancake against the house far wall unseen
five year old body like quick silver slid,
pulled the heavy, heavy rope,
to lift the door and find forbidden stairs longer more
tip-toed down alone, the world outside a silent drone
hands at sides brushed a web,
shuddered a scream held inside instead
the basement a place of dead things held in abandoned hope,
assorted things never seen, amid like snakes more coils of rope
a single slitted window shone thin light flickering a corner closet there,
filled with provisions just in case our lives to spare,
soup and beans, ketchup, all such common stuff, breathed a sigh, turned courage filled, had had enough,
when in the glimmering dark appeared
suspended head, grinning teeth, bulging eyes no body neath,
set feet running back up above slammed the door against the dead, not recognizing until years later
a simple ugly Florida trip carved coconut head.