That time, playing in the muck,
foot emerging without boot,
hopping and laughing
all the way home.
Then, later, on the bus
that car hitting where we sat
the windshield cracking
like a giant spider
blood all over the dead lady’s face.
I thought I’d made it
when my new car had a sunroof
kids riding along, music blaring
But trauma is a spider
Arachne reaching into happy places
and as much as I speed up to avoid her
Fight to disable her attack
she weaves herself new limbs
begins the onslaught anew
And I am stuck in the mud again
no longer limber enough
to dance my way home in the rain.