People let go of a hot potato
not because they don't want it
but because its too hot to handle
because people are afraid to burn
afraid to be hurt for wanting
the hot potato falls flat on the floor
a mess, and well out of freshness
i wonder if someone would pick it up
and if someone, in fact does,
would he put it on the plate or throw it away
because now the potato is no longer hot
it has become cold like the stone floor it rests on
