steps

the ancient steps,
long, deep, crumbling
grey ruins
beneath your feet
and the weight of you,
but they remain,
even long after their
true use has ended,
and now tourists, like
you, like me, carry
our lanterns, our books,
our guides to try
and discover something,
that will lead us
towards our own steps
that may or may not lead
us downward
or begin to rise.