it seems a little thing to those
who have forgotten how it feels
falling down, your socks about your heels
such a small distance from the ground
in front of the others:
falling down.
where do the instant tears spring from?
already you are little, fragile,
out of the shell but a little spell
in the backyard, pavement's world
you don't yet know that well
and then you're suddenly brought lower
as if someone, something smacked your soul.
and it stings in your soul more than they even know
kissing your knee into roses
and you know that something in you
has come apart
something that just a while ago
had its small start-
star breathed from heaven.
falling down.
catastrophe.
as though you could never be mended again
the first hurt's the worst.
the other ones after
come more easily.
mary angela douglas 29 september 2017
who have forgotten how it feels
falling down, your socks about your heels
such a small distance from the ground
in front of the others:
falling down.
where do the instant tears spring from?
already you are little, fragile,
out of the shell but a little spell
in the backyard, pavement's world
you don't yet know that well
and then you're suddenly brought lower
as if someone, something smacked your soul.
and it stings in your soul more than they even know
kissing your knee into roses
and you know that something in you
has come apart
something that just a while ago
had its small start-
star breathed from heaven.
falling down.
catastrophe.
as though you could never be mended again
the first hurt's the worst.
the other ones after
come more easily.
mary angela douglas 29 september 2017
