Ladders Move Me To Laughter

The fall of sixty-three, I envisioned myself "Miss Sorghum" of our Hancock County Fair. I aced the talent phase on piano but needed practice crossing a makeshift stage in heels. Destiny roared, that fatal afternoon, my clever escort list'ning for the judge's voice, grabbed my hand for our debut. I stumbled and felt my gown unzip. Throwing his jacket 'round my waist and shoulders, I escaped with my prince to a storage room and a most peculiar plight - Ladder against the wall, a toddler up five steps. Revealing my gaping rear, I reached for chubby legs Outstretched across the rungs, I screamed. Twisting, turning, he came headlong down my back as mom returned to see my escort catch the lad. Guessing her son had torn my dress triggered her frown but the full story sparked a smile upon her face. And even now, ladders move me to laughter as I recall - the fall my zipper broke. ----------------------------------------------------------- May 1, 2019 original written September 2013 edited on May 1, 2019 to remove the rhyme and meter, cut to 20 lines. Probably not literally free verse; but definitely unrhymed now. You might enjoy the original version, The Fall My Zipper Broke at https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/the_fall_my_zipper_broke_505070 contest: Craig Cornish, Smile at the Foot of a Ladder