the film reel eases into
the crease of her
elbow
weaving effortlessly into
motion

she could no longer keep
a weather eye
on the silver screen
she kept her back to the
projector
& kept her hands
clean

call her careless
call her blue
but she didn't dare place
two cents
toward what she already
knew

at times she felt her
life might be playing in
reverse

the colorful ending as
the opening
& the conflict as the
curse

as the orchestra begins
to swell
she'll breathe in
& escape



they'll wonder why
she never chose
to keep her heart on
tape