at one time
I knew exactly
how many steps
there are
from the street in Paris
to the bell towers
where I once stood
eye-to-eye
with the gargoyles
zigzagging
up the stairs
so old they
dipped in the middle
worn down by footsteps
of the ages
creating bowls
for our current steps
up
up
up
forever
up
stepping out
at the top
I could see all of Paris
from my perch above the
city
and now
when I miss you so much
my heart threatens to burst
I travel there
in my imagination
and I don’t even mind
my thighs burning
with the ascent
for you are
right behind me
your feet nestled
into the bowls of the steps
that once were traveled
over by princes
and scribes
and even
perchance
a hunchback
along with
an incredibly happy
man and woman
who were on their
honeymoon
and felt like they
were climbing to the very
heavens
together
