An act of chivalry wasted

I, going up; he, going down

'I'll take the stairs,' he said

'Light's pointing up now'

I, skeptical, pushed

My load of books in

And, the elevator doors closed

As the down arrow flashed red

As it took me down. I had tried

To tell him what all of us know

Only the elevator knows its planned,

Its unalterable Destination.

An act of chivalry wasted

On an elevator that cannot change.

Yet, not wholly wasted

For, on the elevators of life

Is it not the small acts kind

That bring smiles to weary faces?

An act of chivalry practiced

And only the elevator knows.