letting the rope go slack

the spine is stiff from staying straight
the eyes, half-mast, can't bear the weight,
the feet, too slow, are losing gait,
the muscles stop attack.

the hips can't move, the arms lie pinned
the hair has stiffened in the wind
the lungs fall short, unlocked, untwinned
there is no choice but back.

and yet, the act of turning aches
the sharper angles, harsher stakes
the swivel that the body makes
these sudden exits lack.

instead, just lose the grip you gave
resist the plunge to swim or save
sometimes the thing that makes you brave
is to let the rope go slack.