beginners yoga class

i don't understand

why

you want me

to do this, i tell my yoga

instructor,

Shamika Ghandi formerly,

known as Betty Buttermilk.

why in the ham sandwich

do you want

me to put my ankles

around my head?

i get the praying mantis thing,

and the stretches

and deep breaths, but

i haven't been able

to accomplish this feat

since i was a baby

and my mother was

changing

my diaper.

i need to see you after

class she says.

please still your voice.

you're disturbing

the others.

i murmur a curse word

under my breath then

i try as hard as i can

to place one leg

behind my head,

i hear bones cracking,

and tendons

snapping. i become a human

ball of pain.

i fall into the woman

beside me,

making her scream

and roll against the wall,

bumping her head.

whoops, i tell her, sorry.

so sorry.

would you be a dear and

help me

get out of this?