More than once
      I arrived 
      to find no one home
      I traced
      the gelatin-darkened corridors
      the arthritic moaning stairway
      opening every door
      feeling hot breath down my back
      hearing silent whispers
      connecting stories with my name
      I turned
      and turned again
      and again
     "Where are you"
      I cried
      but still silent whispers
      again and again
      

      Growing ever more frenzied
      I ran
      and stumbled
      through the light-sponging corridors
      up the sound-soaking stairs
      garbled whispers to moans
      and down
      falling
      moans to cracking screams
      I ran to the door
      and pulled
      and pushed
      and banged
      peeling chips of wood
      clawing grains
      clinging
      crying for some light
      but through the splintered opening
      came only sand
      brown earth
      soil
      slowly pouring in

      I turned face down
      and cried
      again
      and again