She scampered here

Leapt over there

Was covid-kindly everywhere

No muck too deep

No ditch too wide

To slake her yen to move aside

***

One day, while out in town to shop for food

Off-curb she sidestepped swift, hot to defer!

Ducked eager maskless four — two him, two her

Love play approached on narrow sidewalk there

They kissed, crisscrossed, so boldly gallivanting

Alert, Politest lurched, just slightly panting

And . . ? no gold star — Politest Person died!

A horn! a roar! a rushing body-crushing bus

Wild leap away! while driver raises quite the fuss

You watch your effing step!!! mask-muffled shout —

On schedule! bus driver can't apply his brake

There's only so much nonsense he (heroically) can take

Contrite the sinner cringes, nods, shrugs, sorry-smiles

Full bus-stop pantomime of rue and shame —

(Last move in silly fool's Politest Person game . . . ?)