shifting perspectives on an instant

she was the precursor
the holy word writ large
across the street:
that bug eyed girl
in the balloon hat.

before her, life was
four rain drops and
dreams of monkeys

since -- a faux blonde
pregnant woman in
an off white sweater
carrying an orange balloon dog
detailed with a black sharpie

on the river, a tall oak grove
washes by like some memory
of vertical in a horizontal universe

on the sea, a whale breeches
and far below the surface sings
of small silver fish
in april sunlight.

on my head, i remove
an elastic, my hair
blows and swirls, tangles
and traipses down my neck

her balloon pops
she laughs
and stares

at me.