she ran
sometimes on a slant
away as much as to

ward off all
the heads of
the hydra that she
seemed to see

she heard my pulse
of confusion
and took me along
on the cyclone

a little loss goes
for a small price
we pay the admission
by having them
and owning up
and staying up
and living up

to the serious things
we bargained for

and we win with
a silly smile
and a cleansed palate
and the rest that comes

she heard my pulse

© Tom Watters  6/13/07