Reflex
to bare-handed
catch

a cactus
grown too tall
for buried roots

grown since
a 6-inch baby
now 4 feet

and falling
dirt flying.
Who wouldn’t

at least try
to save.
Who would

think then
of sharp spines
broken in finger skin.

Margaret Dubay Mikus
© 2010

From Thrown Again into the Frazzle Machine