I heard a step outside my window

I heard a step outside my window

And thought at first that it was my imagination

or the work of spirits or hallucination

I stopped to think, afraid  of what I may see

It may be a fairy- Ah or the silent stealthy kitty

knocking something accidently- But then I slowly moved the curtain

again I heard the sound I was certain,

And then I saw him, it was a man slightly bald and thin in physique

holding the staircase railing with fear, waiting to gather his weak

strength; step by step ,  holding tight to the stick, silently

showing a phase  Life in the age, of loneliness and infirmity

Helplessness sympathy and  pity Another step, another clang, another year,

another question, would he be alive , the next moment what if he falls? why is he alone

what figure of skin and bone of breath and breath , of body of stone,

what thoughts in the mind, cold  what step or steps so bold, what the heart may hold

Or what the heart may seek? Can one call or feel,  or wait-

or walk so straight, up the stairs or down

like the two pointed ladder and all the apple picking, Has he done the barrel filling?

He stepped down the last and I stepped back Why did I see him everyday on this track?

I waited for a while but the sound did not come Why life is so lonely and silent for some?

I looked around, I too was alone- Time ticked , tick by tick, second by second

No one was with me and I thought Maybe soon I would too, be

a thin physique of skin and bone maybe alone , maybe not, maybe alone?