bone courage

A wayward woman tempted me to flatter her. The seas slapped me down. I waved for help but my arm hung limp. Hearing my cry, the sylph cackled and left. I wormed landward, crooked and complaining that all always goes against me. X-rays and insurers scanned my split spine. Both declared me a total loss and packed me off for home. My neighbors leaned out, hoping I would sing. They closed their windows against my ghastly voice. Agnes, my wife, stared hard out our window and refused to leave me alone. Our child’s new bike bell rang out as Agnes complained that I am her misery. She stared me down until my last claim was denied and my final breath rattled. Drowning would have kept my love alive.