This isn't counting. This is sentencing.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5
The number of stairs to the street
There are
20, 21, 22, 23, 24 stops on my
public transportation
8, 9, 10- steps to the diner
where I work
365 days a year
7 days a week
24 hours a day, except at night
when I sleep
with my eyes closed
sometimes

_{thanks to Ancientsnow for the title}