the bounce

i've become bored of this bouncy ball.
the erratic,
unpredictable,
'jump OUT of the sunlight and IN to the shadows beneath my bed' kind of movement.

the moon drew a picture
of my bouncy ball plight
and used a river to illustrate it to me...

i casually cruise down this
running
stream
in my
wooden
canoe.

the sun strokes my skin...
the breeze licks my face...
i whistle a tune as i reach down and let my fingertips kiss the smooth water.

... and the moment I recognize that all is at ease, the river gets
confrontational
and begins to transform into a rapid...

terrified, I hold on to my little canoe...
and ride out the current, which has become violent and vengeful...

i am not prepared for this,
but I have no choice but to hold on and ride it out...
bouncing up and down with the chaotic current,
until the river curves again
and
once
again
i
am
floating.

and the bouncy ball rests in stillness on my bedroom's dusty hardwood floor.