LesleyScoble.com

Springboard

I’m up at the top,
How far is the drop?
Is it low enough to jump 
in a skip and a hop?

No no, stop!
I don’t think so,
It looks rather high,
What you need to do
is learn how to fly.

If I leap
and hold myself flat—
I might glide like a flying squirrel—
or a bat?

Haha, don’t make me laugh,
I wouldn’t do that,
You’ll fall in a spiral,
And land 
With a splat!

Don’t you think I oughta
Give it a try?

Only if you can dive into water—
If you miss it,
You’ll die.

I summon up courage,
And edge to the edge,
(I’m just a boy named Reg,
with my whole life ahead)

If you get it wrong,
You know you’ll be dead?

I stand there
on my toes,

And lift my arms in the air,

Here goes!

With abandon and joy—
and no sense of fear,

I count, one, two, three!

With bravery and flair,
I bounce off the spring board—
And fly away free!
                                      Wheeeeee!e
                                                      e
                                                     e 
                                                    e
                                                  e
                                                             e
                                

 

_{Lesley Scoble, August 2024}

---

CREDITS
I wrote my poem Springboard in response to Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #282. Thank you, Melissa Lemay, for the inspiration.

The prompt’s photo is by Lena Polishko on Unsplash.(From which I sketched my ink and watercolour sketch for the featured image).

---

Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. An artist, actor and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture won the V&A inspired by… Award). Scenic artist & book illustrator, playwright (her musical play, Rapscallion performed in inner city schools and theatre school); TV dancer; Animator and illustrator for TV production. Set up Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd drama and filmmaking workshops in London – producing award-winning films made by children.