A Riff

What happens now is past the moment it exhales. And yet the interval contains a beginning, middle, and end. I put on a pair of roller skates, tightened the clasps until I felt the push against my bones.

 I raced the wind down

an alleyway picking up

speed while I heard my

heart beat, a drum roll

spelling disaster

Before I hit the gravel I knew the end. The doctor picked out the gravel and washed my face with antiseptic. He couldn't stop himself from reminding me of my foolishness. Didn't he know that I kept step for step with the wind until the end.

In those few seconds

I flew over concrete sidewalks,

past white lace curtains,

and heard Thelonius Monk

playing  "Brilliant Corners"

Notes taking off, dizzy improvisation soaring