The Hollow Space Under the Stair

In the hollow space under the stair

spiders breed all unaware

of an untrimmed door set in the wall

behind the paint, narrow and small.

This door opens on meadows bright -

even while the household sleeps at night -

or, perhaps, on rainy days

where water licks at stony quays,

and houses lean across canals,

and ships return from hunting whales;

or else, broaching lands of trolls,

cracks wide the face of hoary knoll.

In the pantry, by the box of bread

someone has a flashlight hid;

close by it, on upper shelves

is tucked away - a book of tales.

I say not who, I say not when

might journey to an hour's end

from the hollow space under the stair -

and all the household unaware!