That’s when the words
arrive barefoot
and not in the tight laced shoes
we set out for them
by the door,
and they surprise us—
perhaps because
they appeared on the lips
via tiptoe,
perhaps because
they bypassed the brain
with a leap—
so that before
we have a chance
to stop the rogue words,
they bounce
off the tongue
and out into the air
where anyone,
even we—
despite our horror—
are astonished
at their pluck,
so naked and
going for it
anyway.