Dagmar Lacatus Jun 26, 2009:

Just a thought I found "malcerto" as :1. Privo di certezza    and 2. Poco stabileI also read the poem that gave me the whole context. I would probably try to go with the obvious solution to this: "the treacherous staircase " or stairway. You could definitely use this term here, as it would also convey the same undelying meaning that Haaans was trying to find. Although , reading the poem, I did not think there was an underlying "doubtful story". The poet just remembers that wuick encounter....with the woman. he does not go on to speak of her.
However , this would be my choice and you could pulle it off, since this is a poem, it gives you a little bit of space to "play" with creativity.