Peer over the edge of the paper if you dare
and see the fall. It’s far, better
be careful, that hesitation you feel, seeing
the place to put your foot is down.
And oh the better part of valor might be
not leaning. Sometimes, the one saying
“I’m Queen” feels more afraid and that’s why
she stays on the page safe, superior, alone.
You have to feel sorry for a king or queen,
and any who can look only down
and never walk easily with the common,
even dressed in rags so they won’t be seen.
Our fingerprints are on this page we share
and DNA, creases crawling with life
linked to other times. All on one plane,
this page from path to shining edge.
Keats and Shakespeare felt your pain
too, and it burned away the evidence ..
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