Startled - October. 8, 2025

this morning, rounding a corner

I nearly step on a mourning dove

we both leap, he on frenetic

gray wings, me into my throat

a mouse’s tail touches the

whisker of a sleeping lion

one flees for its life, the other

springs like a frightened cat

and what about bumping into love,

the shock and disbelief might

throw you backwards to trip

and fall into a rowboat

then helplessly float down a river

towards a massive waterfall

and as you get closer

you are astonished again

by that enormous smile on your face