The what, where, when, why
of them. Protectors
from what? Blisters
when being broken in
as a newcomer
to the studio. Everyone gets to be
creative—fall in line, tap your shoed foot
to the music we know
plays in your head. Open-toed
or not, they collect
in a box beneath her desk.
Just in case. A pen and notepad—
the best kind
of just in case. She walks
miles along the river
in search of the one
word that will
set her free. A design of symbols
ready to be stepped on
to release the fruit.