Child--at the edge
of mystery,
facing the final night--
Diminished by darkness,
your blood congeals,
thickened with fright.

Eyes wide--strangely
fixed on nothing,
head full of lethal noise--
your cheriched dreams expire--
dusty vails shroud
neglected toys.

Savagely, you are drawn across
the forge of time--
claimed by the phoenix flame.
The grown-up has stalked you;
wearing a mask of urgency,
calling your name.

You give him life
by dying.

________________________________________
Sadly, everything we would be
comes at the expense of what we are.
_________________________________________