Once Upon a Time

It sits in hard, smooth splendor

There was a face here

Once

The wisdom of years and years

Shriveled down to a compact plastic

There were emotions swimming in irises here

Once

The tide of life rushed in and out

Forward and back

Failure and triumph have entered and fled

Sound visited these hollow hills here

Once

A dream sprouted and prospered in these coils

Another rotted and died

A tired mother stroked this hard, white brow

Love and forgiveness filled these sockets

An air of worry wandered these barren corridors here

Once

Rivers forged their way down undiscovered channels

Sickness coated this cavity

Joy dwelt in corners where

Only the wind now roams

And nourishment was a frequent visitor

Thoughts took shape here in this cave of pale dust

Once