falling off

little girl fell off her bike and cried on the sidewalk
ger brother gruffly telling her to
"get up melissa"
and i ran across the street
asking about her crash
knowing she really wanted her mother
but any soothing voice would do
just to get her off the ground
and i know how she felt

late at night when the moon is solatiare
in the sky like a lone ranger or the last cowboy
in from a ride
i search for that comfort in my skull
the far reaches of remembering
the noises of mother and youngness
when a kiss really did
make the hurt
go away.
copyright 1998 EAK
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