Cocky
confident
convinced of my mastery
and proud
life is good
A wobble
a shift
the center moves
a niggling sense
that behind the scenes
outside the obvious
they are toying with me
tempting me
letting me win
like playing chess with a child
just to keep him interested
Go ahead
jump
they whisper
you can do it
you won last time
and the time before
you can do it
go
I listen closely
wanting to believe
then reassured
I smile
nod “Yes!”
don my cape
and leap into the void
Only then
going down
do I become aware
of the knee-slap lightning
and chuckling thunder
of amused gods
settling their bets
Marv Himmel
March 25, 2015 ©