I Can't Stay There

It didn’t break
That’s the worst part
It didn’t shatter
Or warn me
It just stopped feeling solid
Underneath
And I was already
Standing on it

I thought
If it stayed warm
It would stay

I can’t stay there
It slips
When I put my weight down

I can’t stay there
It feels like ground
Until I breathe too deep
And something lowers

It held me
Long enough to soften
Long enough
To make it hurt
When it thinned out
Under my feet

I didn’t jump
I didn’t pull away
I just kept hoping
It would firm up again

Like it had before
Like it meant to

I can’t stay there
Not because it wasn’t beautiful
Not because it lied
But because it bends
And keeps bending
And I go with it

You didn’t feel it shift
You’re still standing
I’m the one
Who felt the drop
Slow

I can’t stay there

Even though
I want to
Even though
It felt like it would hold me
It doesn’t
It just
Lasts

Until it doesn’t