Under the Stairs

There was a cupboard

under the stairs

in our house.

The door had a

handle but no

lock and was

just my height

with a sloping top.

In it were kept

all the things

my mother wanted

out of site,

like the Hoover

and an ancient

polishing machine

and a set

of carpet bowls.

There was light

switch if you could

find it behind

all the coats,

and it made a good

hiding place,

although I was

wary of groping

too far towards

the sharp end.

And occasionally

she would empty

everything into the

hall to see what

was there,

before putting it

all back in exactly

the same place.

I guess everybody

has a cupboard

under the stairs.

John H Davies

24th January 2011