Tightrope

Inspired by a book I read as a kid

You may find me kissing the melting pink horizon at daybreak,

A bubblegum touch of a sugared farewell.

My fingertips will long for the smooth graze of a fairytale feather; 

For a girl with legs swinging on her rooftop 

I pluck a plump beauty from the flying formation. 

Up high the tender weight on the black cord with my toe

Is Grandfather’s bellowing laughter when I hid under the table. 

This creak is neither the hearty drunkenness of relatives 

Nor the impatient child’s pull of the pant leg,

But the scream of sanity from windy amplitude. 

Colors seem to blur together until they are all one;

No one knows they come from white and end in black.

All discussion seems to be directed towards the weather or the children,

And the adults retreat to the back of their heads, 

Because it’s a long way from one end to the other. 

Give me my shiny umbrella with the wooden handle,

For show I will please the crowd one last time.

Teeter-totter, to and fro,

Shocks and gasps from ants offer chains and cuffs for safety,

But they don’t realize I mean to fall.

Author's Note

Not one of my best.

Reviews

[piggy]

very deep and profound, great flow.

well done

[Audrey Howitt]

Don't be so hard on yourself. Really a wonderful ending! About half way through I started to wonder about whether she would fall and what that meant--I think the poem takes the reader there easily--Nice job!

[Chelsea]

Whoa. My favorite part for sure is that last line. "But they don't realize I mean to fall." Very powerful way to end your poem.

[A.E. Surdam]

Excellent. While reading, I was afraid she might fall. Such brillance! And once again, another wonderful poem. :)

[Vanessa Rico]

I will have to disagree with you, Hayley, because I thoroughly enjoyed this poem. The first line reeled me in like a fish on a hook! I wish I was able to create such a stunning work of art with beautifully descriptive words; alas, I cannot and leave poetry to the much better writers. So I will ahve to give you a 100 and my love!

[Erinne S.]

I loved the imagery and descriptions in this. Beautifully told. Well done

~Erinne

[kdpgrahi]

A good imagery, creates a great feeling, poetic. Well done

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

A powerfully treasured and selective piece, a well written piece that related to most on here, well done

[Zeitgeist Manifesto]

This is indeed some beautiful work. You should be proud of it.
The imagery was dreamy.

[Honourfish]

The poem flows extremely well, but the last line puts it on a pedestal. The meaning of the poem completely changes from childhood dream all the way to nightmare. To do that shows an extraordinary gift. Great poem.