Kristina Pfleegor
Jeremiah 31:21
A little girl climbing a tree
falls on her back, lungs jarred.
The sky is a darting school of minnows.
The ground shudders.
Look up. The highway from treetop to soil,
a mapped descent. Consider:
wet branch under bare foot,
disobedient twigs, leaves torn off,
bark scraping the shin.
Become acquainted with mercy:
grass flickers against your skin,
anthill pillows your head.
Breath journeys back into your body
and squares of light trail
from the silver sky.