Once, there were wings
And lakes to walk on with lily pad feet.

Once, there were ships in trees
And secret places.

In the darkness of old silk nights
We clicked beads against our teeth
And watched stars totter about the sky in high heels.

Now we sleep and wake and sleep and work and meet
Talking now and then of ships in trees,
Laughing.
I hear myself lie: “Be a child again? Me?
Oh no!”
But my hand strays to my pocket
Touches a feather
Remembers the patterns of bark pressed into my thighs.