His opponent – Dashed against the rooftops
               the victor floats away
the punctuated fabric of their balloon
strained in its ascent
but the ascent is meaningless now.
His opponent – Dashed against the rooftops
becoming more distant with the passing moments
yet closer to him now than ever before.

Further below
their shared heart looks up from the earth
blocking the sun with her free hand
her face twisted
like a bird caught in the strings
               the victor floating away.