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
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