Tripping over my heels, as many takes as it takes on this scene—

CAPTURED BY SAGE CURTIS 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 25

Asphalt after-dark

heat, a shadow

from the light pole

like a film-strip stretched

long on concrete—a reel

plays the same night over

and over. Me, tripping

over my heels, as many takes

as it takes on this scene—

The footage, raw, slurred yelling

to a marched stiletto score. Listen

for the door-slam finale

as I fade around the corner.

Dissolve, start again. Over and over, waiting

for the director, his vision realized,

to please call cut.