This man cuts delicately
and with purpose
This man has an art to him
and a sight in his eyes
His is a gentle way,
but a righteous way,
but he loses track
sometimes
We have begun counting
his steps down the stairs
We have tallied his
transgressions
He has two ticks on the board,
but the first is smeared a bit
It has been up too long to
remember where it’s counted from.
He smiles mostly these days,
and grips the banister loosely
He cuts with purpose.
He stays mostly on track.
He has two ticks
nonetheless.