Today's Sermon

THE BAGEL

I stopped to pick up the bagel


rolling away in the wind,


annoyed with myself


for having dropped it


as if it were a portent.


Faster and faster it rolled,


with me running after it


bent low, gritting my teeth,


and I found myself doubled over


and rolling down the street


head over heels, one complete somersault


after another like a bagel


and strangely happy with myself.

~ David Ignatow, 1941- 1997