you never see it coming, ya know?

even when you kinda expect it

there’s a way

it sneaks up

jumps you

eyes

all around

alert expectation

     yes, people out here

     are trying to kill you

ha! empty effort –

no amount of preparation

can avert

the sudden assault

 

the body will crumble

you will not remember

the impact

the split seconds

of flying

through the air

the second crash

the slam

and slide

flesh a poor rival

to concrete

small bits of stone

and glass

imbedding

into what

you knew

as you

your body

the moving

breathing

self

of you

 

now a mass

of damage

 

after that

you remember

the body

remembers

 

and what of it?

there is no

before

it is just now

always now

beginning again

and then

again/starting line

obliterated

heading hazy

and

each step

a promise.