independence came on a swing,
unexpectedly,
my legs pumping on their own
though I hadn’t asked them to,
wanting to return again and again
into the strong warm hands
of a parent on my low back –
yet my betraying feet poked
high into the blue, deceitful
arms pulled on the chains
in a great skyward V-sit
then spine arced forward
in a swoop of thrill and loss,
my mother’s hands now pushing
my brother, younger, smaller,
greater with need.
i disappear on a swing,
scrub myself against air to shed
confusions and disappointments
of a day, a pandemic, an imaginary
lover whose hands will never
touch my back –
my worn body still
pushes and pulls itself
a lengthening pendulum of release
tethered to the shadow that chases
from the ground,
always a moment behind
in either direction.

me too, sadly I don’t think there are any trees close to the house for me to have a swing.
Love this poem Maria xo
On Tue, Jun 1, 2021 at 3:22 PM Progressive Tense wrote:
> mariafordwriter posted: ” independence came on a swing,unexpectedly,my > legs pumping on their ownthough I hadn’t asked them to,wanting to return > again and againinto the strong warm handsof a parent on my low back –yet my > betraying feet poked high into the blue, deceitfularms pulle” >
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Thank you! xoxo
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