if you stop
they'll catch you
if you look down
you'll fall

but

when the rope bridge
spanning that crevasse
begins swaying
breezily from side to side

and the blood rushes
in your ears
gurgling
and the end of the
bridge disappears from sight

is too far away

how do you
not look down?
as you flail
for the flimsy
inconsequential
handrail, hoping
and praying and wishing
and willing
yourself not to
slide off, down
into the maw of
the waiting monster?

Tell me how.

11/08/2007

Author's Note: afternoon scribble

Posted on 11/08/2007
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