The month of August has arrived, and I’m moving along on my quest to post a blog daily. I challenged myself to this intense post schedule. I have used the year 2021 to explore the various forms of poetry. This month I decided to write Proverbial forms of poetry. I will pick a proverb, a short common saying, and use it to create a poem in whatever direction the Muse chooses to lead me. However, you must remember we are talking about Word Daddy here. My Muse isn’t dependability or inspirational. He often leaves me high and dry when I need his help the most. Apparently, Proverbials have no particular rules. I will try not to sound cliché. My next attempt to write a Proverbial Poem, I will call Falling Into Air.
Falling Into Air
“It is not enough for a man to know how to ride: he must know how to fall.” I have seen this accredited as both an Irish and Mexican proverb. I can’t be certain of the origins, but I plan to use this proverb for my own devices.
Falling Into Air
The accident happened a mile from downtown
Charleston, West Virginia
When the road slipped out from under us
And I found myself falling into air
The Mothman’s red eyes
The one’s I saw in Point Pleasant
Haunted me as I hit the ground
Gasping for breath but alive
I didn’t count on Rooster following me
Landing on top of me in the black coal dust
My humerus snapped
I heard the pop
The sound of a motorcycle engine running
The sound of a siren in the distance
An ambulance came to carry me away
The words of an old Irish proverb echoed in my head
It is not enough for a man to know how to ride;
He must know how to fall.
That must apply to a woman to
Human airbags should always know what to do
When falling into air.
Who is Molly Shea?
Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh. To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.
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You effectively create the scene and the action and the sensation of falling, as you say, into air. Those of us who have fallen this way can relate, and those who haven’t yet (or ever) can learn.
Personally, I can connect with what you use to make the sense of place–Charleston, Mothman, coal dust–I suppose because I grew up in western Pennsylvania.
Good work, Molly. Great details. That’s quite a challenge you’ve issued yourself! Good luck! 🌞
Thank you for reading.