A Clean Cut on Yellow

Slipped out under the screen door gap to catch the midday air down the street. Right on the sidewalk corner, someone had stuck a thick strip of reflective yellow curb tape over a pitted concrete seam. Lying in the gravel next to it was a clean, discarded silver stainless steel paper clip, unbent and flat. No hurry at all. I picked up the paper clip with both plush hands, took an unhurried beat to eye the bright band, and laid its straight wire spine dead flush across the yellow border. The cool silver line sliced right through that intense yellow plane. Slouched down against the curb stone, heels stretched out, totally content letting the contrast hold.