is far away,

and closer than a heartbeat

is near, but pauses.

on breath, shallow, more shallow

blue faced now

grip tighter to an arm

falling loosely, a hidden glower

take that as a friendly reminder

a hint suggested; could mean anything.

trot, walk, run

till breath is deep, too deep

got into the brains – skin pricks

an alarm, a hush, silence deeper than breath.

don’t stop, as a reminder is taken as something

else. a threat, a shudder: raise an army! don’t stop,

prodding. an apple dangles, a hunter

sets a trap, hunts a hunter.

of glamor, of starry night, of bedtime stories

with tall trolls casting tiny shadows.

looms large again when darkness disperses,

a cudgel breaks the silence

of held breaths no longer deep.

deep thoughts, deep feelings scatter like

rain peltering along

a pavement cracked open,

water flowing smoothly through, bends effortlessly

into curve balls no longer unexpected.

ponder no more, stale tales fade away like

rain evaporating with heat; the mind sizzles, like a flame

finding dried branches

feast on twisted notions, twisted rivulets, bends

easily. grows, extends, reaches out to touch

solid walls. that do not break,

solid phantoms that do not cringe

with close inspection: they snarl back

at being found on this recesses, left uncovered, exposed

as glamor fades to hunger, starry nights become fallen night

with bedtime stories ending … … they’re mighty trolls now like

gods, idols turned from fantasy,

solid walls impenetrable. don’t fight back,

shadows, fallen stars lighting up – ponder this.

thick veiny roots ingesting the heart,

while the frosty window is covered in white:

no longer able to see out,

the clangs, the noise, the many voices

reduced to one coiled serpent fat

from a life of being fed voluntarily. more, more

twisted truths, a faded dream

and fallen stars

dashed to earth –