No One Could Ever Know

siraphat, published on 13 April 201 Stock Photo – image ID: 10037630, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

No one, not the crotchety old man across the street could know, nor

His wife, or Mikala’s own father could ever know

How the serpent waged war in the apex of Mikala’s seventeen year old legs,

or how Alex liked to lean into a turn, almost laying down, but not quite,

the kickstand kissed the ground as the engine roared through the rising speed.

“Man, don’t let Mikala ride on the back of that thing!” The old man warned

Mikala’s father acquiesced, Mikala had her own mind, what could he say?

The sleeping serpent awoke, and slid out of its lair.

Three hours later

The serpent snaked through the unforgiving road, squealing and convulsing

The speed climbed to 90, 95, 100, 105.

Alex, did not know how one flawed move,

One slight turn,

Could cause the serpent to transform into a silver pinball, ricocheting between curb and median.

No one could ever know how the silver pinball exploded into a thousand pieces,

Metal crumbs strewn far and wide,

Or how a tree limb sheered Alex’s left leg as he flew straight up through the trees

His blood sizzled as it dripped from the tree branches onto the sizzling asphalt.

No one could ever know how Mikala knew to leap for her life, off the serpent,

body to concrete,

her skin ripped and peeled, like a burnt orange, raw and red

And,

no one will ever know the torture of terminus,

like Alex and Mikala.

~Kimberly Jo Cooley

3 thoughts on “No One Could Ever Know”

crazy nice imagery. beautifully poignant=boldly real.