Falling but Frozen
By accident, mid-aisle, my heel
pressed against the paw of the service dog,
a bony softness as Ipivoted from one student desk to the next.
The black Labrador yelped
and something broke in me. No,
was broken already and snapped again.
No, was made wholeby memory: from modeling clay
I made a hollow ball,
pushed a toothpick inside, then
thumbed smooth the pinhole: hidden.Here, I told my brother. Squeeze this.
Falling but Frozen by David Hernandez | Sandalwood Poetry Reed Diffuser Set
$14.99Price
David Hernandez is the author of five poetry collections, most recently Hello I Must Be Going (2022), finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. He lives in Long Beach, CA. Visit his website at davidahernandez.com.
