“Tightrope”

the littlest exclusion   

draws my attention from the tightrope   

of my life—   

pulls my concentration   

from the next step   

forces me to waiver   

as my attention perceives   

something wrong in my periphery   

one misspoken word   

one invitation unsent   

one empty promise   

pushes me off balance   

makes my steps falter and fail   

Where are you?   

under me with a net?   

beside me with encouragement?   

ahead of me with assurances?   

your disembodied voice   

carries concern   

yet you never come   

you never have time   

you never share my heartbreak   

beyond an obligatory phone call   

as you unthinkingly   

plunge me into an abyss of loneliness  

Copyright 2012 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman