The risks you took

Pushing your girl child on the park swing
higher and higher into the frantic sky
till she screamed with the thrill of flying
above the slippery slide roofs
high on the speed of swinging
faster faster higher
and higher.
You pushed it too far.
The chain looped
above the bar and tangled.
No circus net, no clowns with painted
faces, no drum roll, no applause
as your golden-haired girl flew
through the drawn-breath air
falling
in a slow arc
like a wounded bird.
What if you hadn't caught her as she fell,
caught her in your father arms
hugged her safe.
What if you'd missed?