Donations are essential to keep Write Out Loud going    

MAN ON A WIRE

entry picture

Life is understood backwards

but has to be lived forwards

Søren Kierkegaard

 

When he looks back on his life

he will see that the best of it

was a journey he took from A to B

on a wire between two buildings –

 

his every breath a distillation

of what it meant to keep your nerve

and hold steady, each muscle

braced and quivering like the wire itself

 

which, at a distance, was no more

than a filament, but close up

was a hawser along which he took

illicit steps, knowing his future

 

weighed upon them and all things

were simple, once the choice was made,

however the pole teetered

or the air roared wildly

 

above a world of chairs

and carpets, dates and deliveries,

or the cops who stared amazed

at a man walking across the sky

 

whom later they cuffed

and cautioned apologetically

before asking him politely his name

and a few relevant details.

 

◄ Pater

Bruegel ►

Comments

Profile image

raypool

Sat 10th Aug 2019 23:15

Perfect description of a hair raising moment or rather continuous moment in time, galvanising us into an unfeasible witness role David.

Welcome to the D & W fold !

If you wish to post a comment you must login.

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Find out more Hide this message