she releases the snib

at the top of the window, 

and loops her index fingers 

under the lift hooks, but 

cannot shimmy the inner sash 

out of its casement

 

after many years 

it has grown stuck 

and no matter how much 

she wriggles her wrists 

or pushes her back 

into raising the rail  

it will not budge 

                   

through the glass 

she sees the rusted 

fingerprints of leaves 

on wet concrete