String Theory

what use now

these red shells

of painted wood

chipped but lying

intact on the packed clay

of the old playground

just another discarded part

of the yo-yo that

from a certain distance

and perspective could depict

the contours of a heart

each half clinging

to the axle still

capable of being propelled

back and forth by the

mechanics of response

the string that shot them

down and brought them home

to your clever hand

the cord so frayed and

worn from use is gone

you dropped it

in the trash

by the open gate

on your way out

just the loop left twisted

on your finger after

the final trick of spinning

the body near the ground

you called walking the dog