Dare Devil
on tip
toe she walks the beam barefoot
on a dare
to her heart
dancing
on a current of determination
high
above layers of simple air
the boys
beam, taunt, and then shout, Stop
as she
moves
across
the skeleton span of the construction site
far out
of her permitted play-time range
on tip
toe she walks the beam barefoot
the
anchor of her shame lifted
feels the
shift beneath her feet as
purchase
fails and connect becomes but
a former
phantom phrase
on tip toe she sails
the conclusive current
toward
the ever close rising ground
drops through
layers of
simple air
sinking,
solitary, falling, free,
five-year-old
flying fast
into the
ungiving yield of her
final,
forever, fall
a smile
flying from her face
hitting
the ground first
Ayeee. Although I could see it coming, the shock was severe. Well told, but I ALMOST wish I hadn't read this one - such a contrast with your graduation day poem.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Viv. But it is a fine poem.
ReplyDeleteSo incredibly heart-breaking, powerful and beautiful composed but devastating
ReplyDeletewow - the words really took you in such different directions! This one has jolted me awake!
ReplyDeletePearl, such beautiful words dress this horror.
ReplyDeleteYes, this took the gooey complacency from our minds as you taught us the lesson that life is not always perfect or predictable.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! That smile hitting the ground first!
ReplyDeleteOh that ending! I can feel the pain! Sometimes 5-year-olds don't know fear.
ReplyDeleteOh, this poem hurt to read. Made me think of the small child who fell off a balcony just last week. Strong write!
ReplyDeleteeep....something happening to my kids is one of my greatest fears...probably stemming from my own wildness and there are def times it stung....ouch on the landing...
ReplyDeleteI was with her on the balance beam. Extraordinary tragic ending. So unexpected.
ReplyDeleteSome pretty Deep Inuendo, Perhaps, The Language Indicates There Is Something More Here Than An Innocent Accident With The Word, shame...A Very Tense Poem.
ReplyDelete