Steel Staircase

Contributor: Jessica Mara

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Two bony legs and hazel eyes;
he wakes up each morning to the sun
beating down on his matted hair.

He created a makeshift bed
at the foot of rusty fire escape stairs
under the window of the place he calls home
to avoid the slamming doors that echo inside.

Litter, scattered on the cracking concrete below.
Swirling when the wind picks up
and settling in a new location.

No matter how far the waste travels
or how noisily it rustles
in an attempt to grab the attention of passerbys,
it will continue to be ignored.


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Jessica Mara is a senior at Pompton Lakes High School, 18, excited to share her poetry with the world. Enjoy!