When the golden orb of the doorknob
remains beyond the reach
of his tiny, grasping hands,
the atrium balcony
presents a happy
alternative.
How quickly he pulls himself up!
— then over.
Unaware of their duty to flail,
his limbs remain quiet and relaxed
during the sweet, breezy descent.
How long before the sirens begin?
Before the muscles of the stunned-into-silence crowd
entertain movement?
How long before a mother learns
that an apple, once peeled,
can never reclaim its skin?
Jo Ann Povia is chief of staff for a state assemblywoman. She lives in Ewing.
