when you fall down

when you fall down
your arms reach out for the dirt
your face looks to the side to avoid a mouthful of soil
your brain screams at
your foot
what happened
your heart beats cadence
your mouth shuts but not before
your tongue tastes some small flecks of soil as
your legs arc up over
your back
your feet would kick
your butt if you let them
your pelvis comes to rest and
for a brief instance it looks like the earth might be hugging you
your brain yells
get up
your toes move to where your torso once was digging in
your hands move down to push you forward
you're going to run with your elbows and your knees until
your legs save you from Mr. gravity
you're up all in the blink of
your sweat filled eye
most importantly
keep moving forward
as best you can

-- a poem for those who experience the 1st (or 2nd or 3rd... infinity) taste of reality bites existentialism...

Affirmation 42.1