New Country

She couldn’t do it,

Couldn’t make herself

Put her foot

On the strange

Moving stairs.

Alice had done it.

There she was

Rising into the sky,

Smiling even.

But still,

On the ground

They seemed dangerous,

These steps

That moved by themselves

Taking you only

Forward and up.

What if she changed her mind?

People crowded

Behind her

Urging her on.

“What’s taking so long?” they asked.

It was nothing to them.

She pushed

Through the crowd,

Watching Alice

Rise above her.

Who knew what could happen

In this country

Where you took just one step

And were swept away?