Temporary Stairs

Letter Seventeen

Walking in, I read the room
We’ve all been here before
The sign is in its place again
Right where I need to go
Everyone is looking lost
Like they’re waiting for a cue
I can see what this is asking
And I know just what to do

Temporary stairs
Causing a commotion
Temporary stairs
Lost all sense of motion
Temporary stairs
Standing here does nothing
The sign says “escalator closed”
But they’re temporary stairs

I’ve seen this play out before
People frozen in place
Like deer in the headlights
With blank looks on their face
The sign’s not saying anything
We don’t already know
We don’t need permission
Stop standing there and go

Temporary stairs
Causing a commotion
Temporary stairs
Lost all sense of motion
Temporary stairs
Standing here does nothing
The sign says “escalator closed”
But they’re temporary stairs

We’re all bunched up again
Like this is how it goes
No one’s moving anywhere
But everybody knows

Temporary stairs
Causing a commotion
Temporary stairs
Lost all sense of motion
Temporary stairs
Standing here does nothing
The sign says “escalator closed”
But they’re temporary stairs