balloon

you precious amalgamation

precariously knit

shreds of skin and bone

you hum with life

shot-through with veins of red and blue

how vibrant and vivid and impossible you are.

i want to wrap you up inside my jacket

and keep you there, a joey.

instead, i let the long string unfurl

you tug and arc and pull

higher in the wind 

and the beckoning blue sky

i can't

i must

you grow

i cry

good

bye

my

d

   a

    r

       l

            i

                 n

                      g