it only lasts a second
an ended breath too next
a stutter of thoughts that swirl
“Should I relent?”
it pulls up short
a stop
a silent question’s gasp
then thunders forward
tripping over shuffling feet
threatens humiliation
a laying out in surrender
it catches you off guard
forces a pulling up
then comes a choice
prolong? Or cover up …
the politics of shifting
an honest, shrugging laugh
neither is a sin, but
they’ll never erase that gap
©2026, Mary Grace van der Kroef