"Grace In Motion" (Original Poem) Poem by Alicia Green

I was strutting back from archery,
sun in my hair, shoes untied—on purpose.
I spotted a group of boys near the mess hall,
laughing and tossing a football like they owned the world.
One of them was cute. Not-my-cousin cute.
The kind of cute you write about in your journal
and circle his name in hearts.
He looked up. I waved. He waved back.
His friends elbowed him.
They're definitely saying,
"That girl's got style.
That girl's got mystery.
That girl's got something special."
I smiled. I nodded.
Then my ankle twisted on a tree root
I swear wasn't there two seconds ago.
Suddenly I was flying—arms flapping,
like a pelican trying to moonwalk.
Splat.
Right into the dirt.
Mouth full of pine needles,
dignity left somewhere in the grass.
The boys?
Doubled over. Gasping with laughter.
I popped up, brushed off, struck a pose.
Maybe they'll carry me off like royalty.
Maybe he'll kiss my scraped elbow.
They turned and walked away.
I limped after them, casually.
"Hey guys, " I said, "What's up? "
"Did you just eat it? " one of them asked.
"Nope. That was… yoga. It's called Ground Salute."
They blinked.
"Cool. So… anyone got a Band-Aid?
Maybe some gauze? And, I don't know—crutches? "
Silence.
"Alright then. Catch you later! "
I hobbled off, still smiling.
They're just shy, I told myself.
They've clearly never met a woman of mystery before.