Up the Downstairs

when I went up and down the stairs

I stopped midway

and looked into the letterbox

where I found only cobwebs

and I wondered why

my heart always sank

and then I thought that somewhere

there was another letterbox

with someone looking into it

and not finding my letter

and feeling as disappointed

as I did

and saddened

as I was

***

As I grew up 

I learned to give 

before I took 

except unhappiness 

sadness 

depression 

which were mine 

and mine alone 

not to be shared

but that could not be

cannot be

(written in 1956)