Broken Branch
by Shannon P. Laws
There is a moment
in most lives when
that old dog proves useless
the rhododendron branch cannot
hold the weight and we fall
The first fall in many years
When was the last time I fell
A gopher hole in the grassy field
A twisted root at Arroyo Creek
A frozen puddle near the store
This time
my foot
my balance
my judgment
failed
It will not happen again
but it will
Three times after 70
and they lock you up
A body slaps the Earth
gravity reminds it where it’s from
A glimpse of the end of the skin’s journey
destine humbleturned desire to return to sand
If I wait long enough
I will soon feed the roots
that tripped me
shannon p. laws 