lily veronica

seashells wrap themselves around her neck
pulled taut when she talks
a never-ending string of knotted words

six charcoal dots underneath her eyes
snake eyes
green and brown

the world is a mirage, you know
glittering green, glitter
landing softly at our feet
an expansion of light, the blooming of a
green hibiscus
the opening, the peeling back of sparkly petals
falling away, having lived their lives

the steady rythym of blood in my ears keeps me awake
the stars come in one at a time through my window
the black sound sits calmly on the edge of the sill
and blinks at me, mockingly

i close my eyes but I know

a small girl with wings that are light blue
but transparent

light blue, not baby blue or sky blue
a very particular shade of blue

aqua, ultra-clear swimming hole blue

a robin's egg turned rouge blue

when the child was put into the room, their hair was golden and wavy, like sunshine rays. they were naked. their pupils were small and their blue irises shone faintly. the whites were stark, clean, pristine.

she had glitter on her cheekbones

raindrops on the window screen

she smiles, forces a laugh

earrings catch what little light there is

and then, a crack of lightening

splitting the sky into billions of shards