she wished time
would slide and elide
down and bounce
back up just like
at a playground
trampoline and slide.

draw it all together
put it on a tether
and spin it around
the maypole —

except it is october
and for a few days
everyone is beyond sober
at the state
of affairs
of the state
of late.

she’s trying
not to hate

but innocence to retrieve
and once again believe.

maybe next may.