Blink Of An Eye

I.

I was born a golden china doll,

least that’s what everyone

taught me 

to be

II.

She sang I was her only 

sunshine

made her happy 

when skies are gray

over and over

until I could smile 

through the pain

III.

I learned 

how to close my eyes 

one day

where I lived 

more awake

IV.

I took spaceships 

to other worlds

I understood

 more fully 

than me 

counting

down 

the days

V.

Every sunrise 

I’d wake 

like an internal clockwork

to the echoing songs

the birds 

would line the walls 

of the parking lot 

below with

I was frozen and sore

but with my eyes closed

I knew

a vivid world of feathered creatures

had come to give me the wings I prayed for

VI.

I'm afraid

it's not rejection

I fear — 

it's grasping

the splendor

of

my

universe

I tuck

hidden

from behind

a

worn

down

wink,

and

losing

all the

splendor

to

a

line

drawn in the sand.