neighbors

A poem about strangers in an elevator

        Neighbors

I hurried to the elevator,
pressing the button I waited
a guy in a suit stopped behind me.
As the elevator door opened
a lady with long red hair
stopped behind me

Two people stepped out
Awkwardly the three of us
made our way into the elevator
just as the doors went to close
a young man with a beard
and curly hair stepped in

I reached through the others
and pushed six. Other hands
pressed two and five.
The elevator slowly went up
When it stopped at two
The lady left and went right

It was quiet as the elevator
started again. I thought about
saying something but didn’t
know what to say.
Looking around, the silence
didn’t bother anyone else

Stopping at five the man
in the suit stepped out
The doors closed and
we went to six in silence
Walking away I realized, I
didn’t know any of my neighbors