Mikaela Castledine #218 Spectator's remorse

I remember then

time was when

I could use my strong left arm to pull

and my good right arm to steady

with my breathing slow and the pendulum

of my personal gravity ready

And the nock upon the string

fitted with such satisfaction

the draw the settle the transfer and the sigh

Then the little pavlov clicker’s click

that runs along your aural pathways

so your fingers soften slightly

and the humming string discharges

all in precision

For that second nothing changes

inside that time expanding bubble until

the piercing arrow breaches

and the spent bow swings depleted

in arching symmetry from your

still unmoving hand