parabola

if I were you

I would go fast on those skates

and dig my wheels into the curves

I would skate hard

and deliberately

until the gym thundered

like falling boulders

I would skate hard in circles

past Morgan who’s threatening to kiss you

past Colin who stole your best friend

I would skate too fast

and get my wheels tangled

and trip over my own foot

and fly into the hardwoods with my hands outstretched

I would hear a sharp crack

and feel my wrist go numb

and roll over on my back

and find my left forearm warped

a parabola

like a rubber cartoon

and later

if I were you

I would stare hard

and deliberately

as the doctor

with his bare hands

sweating and grunting

like he’s bending steel

squeezes it back

into place

I would try to explain

with a tired smile

as he removes the tourniquet

as the blood floods back into my arm

how the returning warmth

feels soft and red

and reminds me of

a cherry cough drop