Risky Lift [ William Doreski ]

Sometimes the elevator stalls 
and digests all its passengers.
Then it lurches up a notch
and spits out the teeth and bones.

Despite his gleaming toolkit
the repairman can’t repair it
because it’s a spiritual problem,
not mechanical, as we thought.

A taped-up sign warns people
to avoid the lift, but some require
help reaching the upper stories,
and take the risk. Some make it,

others don’t. We should require
people to sign a release before
they board this malicious device.
Days pass. The death toll rises,

but neither police nor reporters
find this disaster of interest. 
Even though we’ve unplugged it
the elevator draws energy

from the blood and meat of victims.
We should close the building
until we solve this problem.
But the tenants--dentists, lawyers,

accountants—always use the stairs
and don’t seem worried by
the diminution of their clients,
mostly people too old to care.