the red chair

the red chair has been
there for years, maybe ten
years. it's more
for show than sitting,
but it's bright
and bold, unhidden,
so it surprises you when your
unshoed foot
collides against
the metal leg.
you yell out and bounce
around on
your one good foot.
you let out a stream
of obscenities.
the toe is blue and red
already,
throbbing like a toothache.
it's not the chairs fault.
it's you, the path
you've chosen so many
times
to have this happen.