Reverie Fair Magazine Issue No. 7 | Page 16

Meeting in the Hallway

You were hanging by a thread

in the middle of the hallway.

I almost walked into you.

Those old strands of fear,

reacting to “SPIDER”

wove around my lungs

squeezed short and sharp.

Because you weren’t in a hurry,

you paused in your descent.

Hung there,

eye level to me.

All legs moving slowly, seemingly separately,

like an acrobat idly showing off

or a jewel thief - mid-heist - waiting

for the guard to pass

before heading to the diamonds.

I breathed,

slower, softer,

mentally pulled up a chair

while you danced.

Even blew you a kiss to give you some swing.

Before you could continue your journey to the carpet,

I took a teacup,

Brought it under your body.

then a postcard over the top to keep you contained

And flung you to a new stage-

outside.

Sorry for the change of plans.

Experience has taught me

that my instincts are not yet master

to my desired Buddha nature

should we meet again.

Having a gifted poet on staff is so much fun! These are two of our favorites by Features Editor, Barbara Barrows.