Reflected glory
whispers
waves shadowed meaning
story
of once-upon you

Match palm to puppetry
as
rings aluminum
stacked to nailbed
chatter from ago
of misspent pride
slack hope
impairment
taken
for flight

Reach for the halo
pull the night free
as world spins
close eyes
to care
fit rescue’s silver promise
to flesh
lift incomplete
knived teardrop
to lips

drink deeply of fear

and fly.