ELEVATORS

They go up,
they go down,
tirelessly,
pausing politely
at the push of a button.

Then, without warning,
FAILURE.
FULTILITY.  MALFUNCTION.
All the ups and downs of life
cease
in the blink of an eye.

Chaos.  Plans awry.
Useless rituals.
Hope deferred.
Predictability hangs suspended,
waiting for the crash.

                                   Northern Ontario Speaks
                                                     Northern Ontario Poetry Collection
                                                      Volume 19, 2014