8. rideo

a thirty-pound roll of orange cellophane
boundsdown the rickety cellar stairs
rebounds off the flagstone wall
and rests upon the warped heave of cement floor

the motion of cat in terror
of boyish guffaw
of girlish snickering
of tomorrow at the dining room table
describing an instant

the essence of hope
rainbowed at my feet

too holy for sin
too sinful for blessing
too blessed for anything but

a loud yelp,
for freedom
for reverence
for angels on pin heads

moments later,
life is rewound, rerolled
but remembered.

always that.