Children don’t fall flat

but there he is

flat silent and broken

if he were awake

he would certainly move

into a more comfortable position
It’s a weird world

morality is fluid

people get shot

people get fucked

extraordinary things happen constantly

then a young boy, alone

on a shop awning

is not so strange

it registered, though
From an open window

he walked towards the front of

the overhanging

looked down

chewing on nothing to get some spit

there were no cars directly below

so he went sideways –

a supporting rod lead from the building

to the edge of the awning

a large bolt fixed it solid

he lifted a leg over

where the bolt protruded

and looked down

misjudged

his weight was committed

and he fell
Straight

like an arrow

head first

arms stretched out in front

he was diving

there was no water

I closed my eyes
When I opened them, moments later,

I was surprised, confused

expecting to see him

stuck up to his waist in the road

and ripples in the asphalt