Slipping Through the Cracks

Slipping Through the Cracks

Makes it sound like magical escape.

Like a fish from a net that isn’t torn

or a fugitive through a cordon

drawn tight and drawing tighter.

True, some do go on the lam from help

all their lives, the decent concern they’re due

an alien element that would suffocate...

But it lets us off the hook, this phrase—

For no one ducks assistance quite unnoticed,

quite unexplained. Always there is one, or

knots of few, cabals of knowing large as all,

who see eluding’s chance before it’s true:

Spaces opening around the silver scales,

shoulder to shoulder admitting yards, then miles.