Out of the dark

she came into the room

unlit, dusty,

magnolia in the windows

briars in the paths

the windows were open

and the air was wet

and cool

it had a taste,

she could taste it—

cool and grassy

bellpepper crisp

on top of the dresser

the mirror shone

nothing

on top of the dresser

the mirror fell over

the broken glass was

mirrorheat

the shattered glass

could cut

her feet pitterpattered

child-like, little

feet pat pat pat

quick like elves

on the take

and dreaming too

fast to know the

hurt

the moon shone from

a cloudbreak,

red footprints

on the woodfloor

and her voice

laughing atop

the shatters