Читать книгу Planted by the Signs - Misty Skaggs - Страница 18

Jump Rope Jitters

I’m still falling down.

Like when I was in fourth grade

and the worst in class at jumping rope.

I can still feel my little kid skin connect

with playground concrete

and see the bright red ribbons of blood

cutting a path to the cuff

of my ruffled pastel socks.

I can still feel loose gravel trapped

right below the surface.

Bits of rock worked their way out

and left rough skin behind.

I can hear the skim and skip

and my heart speeds up to keep up.

The matching scars on my knees itch

as I lie awake at night.

I know there’s no recess to dread tomorrow

and I should be drifting gently

toward a soft sleep, but my legs jerk

and my belly bubbles up with bad nerves

and somehow I’m still falling down.