chubby fingers point to the freckles among a dark curtain the smallest one asks the name of each fire

the tallest of the children uses his brains he paints them a story and tells them its planes

the second child won’t believe a lie she rambles about a needle poking holes in the sky

the smallest one begins to sigh his magical imagination beginning to die

they come up with theories looking miles away about the suns and planets, about where they lay

the sky full of stars seemed dead and cold a place once so magical now hurt to behold

i need to get the mail i close the door behind me i walk down the steps of my porch without my house key

leaning down to the box an empty space i assume the mailman has slowed his pace

i turn to the door it doesn’t really matter the mail will get here eventually suddenly i hear a patter

now it rains my mail will arrive drenched i forgot about the deadbolt lock the door handle i wrenched

at first it was panicked but then i felt calm i held my hand out until drops crested in my palm

the lightning scar a dark sky but i wasn’t afraid the thunder roars like a dragon so there i laid

let time reverse let the mouth try again the heart is pounding louder than twenty men

the stomach feels tender and weak as it falls the throat escapes as if sliding down walls

question the mind why can it run on its own close the lips over words for the next mistake is unknown

my past haunts me like a ghost does its grave i see it on every corner of every room

it follows me like a lost pet the places it used to go peter pan shadowed

the places it walked stomping memories it abandoned left deep footprints in the ground they grow dark and hollow

we walk together in a sea of faces we worry about our unseen impurity

if all of us are conscious do we even notice each other

think solely of yourself the sea will too

sapphire scenery neptune must hold composed of ice summers are cold

cobalt world your diamond tears set you apart from rocky peers

ultramarine giant do you flourish with creation or are you forgotten across an empty nation

roman god of the sea you take your lonely course orbit in darkness with your dashing force

the mother takes hold of her daughter’s arm, pulling her into a crowd of women and children. “the ship is sinking” the panicked mother signs for her daughter. silent screams and open mouths, hurried escapes into rescue boats. she hears nothing, but understands everything still. the vibration of expensive shoes clacking against the boats’ slowly disappearing floor. the girl closes her eyes, holding onto her mother’s soft, crimson coat. “i love you” signs the mother, as they take the next step, crawling into the yellow escape.