love is an olympic sport

by c.w. williams

Posted to Poetry on 2003-12-12 10:37:00

always wondered
what the chalk was for
and why it was always
all over the floor
but I blew my chance to ask her.

self-esteem
kept me JV
to her varsity.
made myself
the lower bar –
a boost to
the top shelf,
fuller feelings,
higher life.

doubted that
my floor routine
had enough tumbles
to keep her breathless.
said I, “spun her around”
but swore I made her
toss and turn
when the music stopped
and the lights went out.

always afraid
of reckless abandon;
concerned that
break-neck speed
would heart-break leave
but she got me sprung
and I took the leap.

tried but failed
to find that balance.
fell off the beam
when friends would call
night and day, leaving her
to fall away
and dismount
from my heart.

now I know what the chalk was for.

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