So far behind me

You are every morning

but you always overtake me on the stairs

Wait for the moment

Perhaps you’re not coming?

A third of the way down

But you always overtake me on the stairs

Crawling, leopard-like or

Puma to be real

Tummy tapping step, as you

Swiftly steal the lead

and always overtake me on the stairs

No looking back

Just confident progression

shoulder blades assured

and body almost flattened

Cos you always overtake me on the stairs

Glistening blackness, 

With military precision

Sinews are stretching

Wait…is that you purring?

Cos you always overtake me on the stairs

 

By Stella Haricot