Living Bubbles

We flew our clear-glass bubbles side by side
Or I'd watch hers rise
as mine brushed the ground
then the bushes
and flew past my friend
when it was her time to sink
my time to soar

Some days we balanced on top
slip-sliding, lighter than angels
Then we'd crawl safe inside
waving through sun-prism bubble globes
as we drowsed in our floating cradles

In her bubble
a dark space
grew but
I never noticed
She spent
the most time sitting
on top of her bubble
smiling when I laughed
looking sad when I cried
One day she fled inside to tearless silence--
The bubble burst pin hidden
in her sleeve