Peter Pan in Purgatory

He died when he was a boy.

(Peter breaks through)

Golden child of all his siblings:

(the shadow.)

beloved, beautiful, anchored

in the absolute innocence of youth.

He died when he wasn’t old.

(Come away, come away!)

Forever cast as that free-spirited

(The flight...)

sprite, glowing goodness, what

mother didn’t dare let go of.

He died when he was twelve…

(the pirate ship...)

or eleven, or seven, or never.

(“Hook or me this time!”)

Flying through the heavy hearts

of his family, battling the memory left when

he died with a secret.

(The happy island.)

Stuck in the corners of corporeal

(The children are carried off,)

past, in the synapses of loves’

mind’s heart.

He died a boy.

(they return home.)

Peter Pan in purgatory

(The never bird.)

lives eternally young.