The Stairwell

I find the opening in a cave, while I hide in fear.
Prison guards are after me, hounds barking I can hear.
But as the dogs come to this cave, they turn and run away.
I laugh in my boldness, ha, I'll live another day!
I find a lantern by a doorway, right where the stairs begin.
I got the lantern going, now I can see as I go in.

As I start down the stairwell, I can feel the death, it stank.
I hear water dripping, it is dark, cold, and dank.
The stairs are made of stone, the kind I've never seen.
They are very filthy now, but once were nice and clean.
The stairs are very smooth, from years of transportation.
I wondered what went on here, my mind reels in anticipation.

Spiraling stairs, spiraling stairs, will it never end?
Spiraling stairs, spiraling stairs, when did this thing begin?

I keep following the stairs, man this thing is deep!
Get to the bottom and then out of here, do it all in one clean sweep!
I find a door at a landing, but the thing is locked.
I kept fiddling with the knob, I swear somebody knocked.
Moaning, and crying, and moving around, on the other side of the door.
By then I take off in fear, I can't stand anymore.

I find another landing, but this time with a hall.
But it ts a dead end, it doesn't go far at all.
The lantern gives me safety, makes me bolder then I should be.
My muscles aching now, I'm doing better then I could be.
It is getting late, and exhausted I do feel.
So I curl up in the hall there, Fall asleep dreaming of a meal.

Spiraling stairs, spiraling stairs, will it never end?
Spiraling stairs, spiraling stairs, when did this thing begin?

I wake up with a jerk, and a rope around my neck.
My hands and feet are tied, will this now end my trek?
I thought the guards did find me, but something isn't right.
I'm tied up in a net now, and man this thing is tight!
Now hanging from a pole, carried between the two.
And still we're going down, how much farther 'till we're through?

At last we hit the bottom, and a lantern finally lit.
I am really thirsty, I can't even spit.
I see a light off to the left, and something looking like a nest.
An egg is being pampered, about to hatch I guess.
Now little knives are cutting me, on my arms, legs, and back.
I'm dragged into the short hall, and then tied on a rack.

Spiraling stairs, spiraling stairs, will it never end?
Spiraling stairs, spiraling stairs, when did this thing begin?

They lay the nest in a corner, in that little hall.
Put the egg into the nest, and start building up a wall.
Fear suddenly hit me, as I'm being walled in.
Once that egg does hatch, it's feeding will begin.
Now I start to struggle, and sweat pours off my face.
I hear the egg start cracking, as the last brick fits in place.

© Ronald A. Britton, All rights reserved 

by Sgt B