Tense

 

TENSE

Inside me

Coiled barbs prickle with tension

I balance on an inner wire.

I’m on high alert

Listening for a cry, a thud, something breaking.

Never sure if I’ll manage

or if this is the night I’ll have

to call somebody for help.

We are grown together,

Two ancient creepers

Hardened into position over the years.

“Old as dirt,” Michael says cheerfully.

We’ve been together forever

Now

We are splitting slowly apart

Tiny strands rip, tear and hang useless.

So here I stand balancing

Wobbling badly on the fence.