through the tunnels we gasp like tiny frogs
you who will never learn anything
you anarchist you waterfall
how can you
be your mother all over
like that
she is also beautiful and wayward
you are her child
ungoverned and starting
you naked child who refuses all fences
me and you outside
now
when you are older
hold me
just do that
I have tried to make this okay
but I don’t really know how
I made you a paper plane but it crashed
you laughed about it
because you laugh about everything
because you are a cloud full of laughter
because you are falling
from here to there
laughing like a balloon
my only business to catch you
wake up you cried
but I still want you
to mind the gap
for it is a large gap
and known to be full of holes
hold my hand, please
tightly as we step
.
.
____________
Steve Parker