Eloper of Mine
by D. K. Sterling

I fell from such a lofty place
(my high horse turning cruel on me)
right along here some place;
I'm surprised those hoofprints
aren't still catching rain.

Spilling like wine
spouted from a pitcher,
when I struck the ground
I bit my lip--
could see you racing
on ahead...

(didn't even break your stride)

while I smacked so hard
it brought a galling deafness
that left me unarmed
and far too vulnerable,
even to my own way of
thinking.

I could have sworn
we agreed on something;
I'd desperately hoped
for anything deeper
than all this chasing
on the surface--
you always knew I
couldn't breathe
where the air's so thin.

A wooden cross
shaped by window panes;
I thought if I'd just lie
still below
perhaps you'd change
your mind--
come back for me...

but the world only seemed
even more vague as I lay
unraveled on my backside.