they are on a see-saw
he flies, she plunges
propels herself out, a dolphin bent out of shape
he crashes, a squirrel from a tree
she slips off the balcony ledge like a cat
he, a monkey climbs that trunk again,
gloats as he passes her
gently and patiently as an ant
she labors to ascend again
he slithers a bit down
slowly, a cautious snake
they pause and observe each other briefly
less force, more instinct
succumbing to physical momentum
suspended in mid-air
crucial balance obtained
looking into each other’s eyes
listening to each other’s sounds
