Shake Well, Separation is Natural

There once was a young girl

who taught me how to save

dragonflies

from certain death in spiders' webs.

At the building with bars on the windows

before we'd gone to the lake,

A Grown-Up had said:

Children, You Must Never Catch A

butterfly.

When The Creature Lands On Your Hand,

Do Not Trap It With Your Other.

Our fingers would stain the delicate wings

sticking.

So we made sure not to touch

the dragonfly's wings

for fear of the same fate.

Once freed, they

would quickly fly away,

and our faces were not stained with tears.

You've never learned this lesson

I learn

as you hold onto me

tight enough to stop breath.

I can't escape from such safety

Like the misunderstood giant

that killed with love.

You've crowned me with spiderwebs

Like the ghost of someone

who killed me before

in the dim hallways with cells

on either side and

teachers

standing by

Fleshless sharp bones

reaching from the earthy grave

Relentless.