Puddles

In the puddles water lies,
in the water stand the trees,
in the water there is sky,
reaching down as she can see
to where sky vanishes,
but what begins?

If she steps in
she’ll disappear,
go down and down
through clear, cold wet
till nothing will be left of here
(kitten in a sack plunged deep,
kitten only bubbles now).

Arms spread wide
like startled bird
she teeters
on the muddy ridge,
the puddles’ edge,
her small heart rapid,
trembling.

Don’t fall, don’t fall,
don/t ever let yourself fall in.

-Gill McEvoy