Mercy in the Stairwell

[Intro — choir] Mercy made room where I had none left. [Verse 1] Third-floor bulb with its tired yellow hum Rain in my sleeves and my fingers numb The paper sack tore open on step sixteen Three red apples rolled by the railing green I sat on the landing, back to the wall Too worn to gather the smallest thing at all No polished doorway, no prepared song Only my breathing trying to carry on [Pre-chorus] Then quiet opened where the stair turned square And Your mercy stayed in the winter air [Chorus] Mercy in the stairwell, sitting on the step Giving me a minute when I had nothing left Mercy in the stairwell, steady, unafraid You did not rush my sorrow or bargain for my praise Between the street below and the room above You made that narrow landing wide enough for love Mercy in the stairwell, breath by measured breath You stayed until my shaking hands could gather what was left [Verse 2] The following evening at half past eight I heard slow footsteps stop beyond the gate One floor below, someone sat alone Keys in one palm, not ready to go home I filled two cups from the kettle’s steam Carried them down past the washing machine We offered no answers, just watched the rain fall And quiet made room by the painted wall [Bridge — call and response] [Lead] No stage [Choir] Still mercy [Lead] No crowd [Choir] Still mercy [Lead] No speech [Choir] Still mercy [Lead] One open hand [Choir] Mercy moves [All] In every in-between place, let compassion have a room. May nobody climb alone when we can share the weight. [Final chorus] Mercy in the stairwell, sitting on the step Giving us a minute when we have nothing left Mercy in the stairwell, steady, unafraid You do not rush our sorrow or bargain for our praise Between the street below and the room above You make a narrow landing wide enough for love [Outro] Three red apples in the paper sack, two warm cups beside the rail, together, we climbed the final flight.