Sculpture Made of Clay, Circa 1984

There was a beautiful car once that was out of my reach---

and a beautiful boy that was out of control

and a beautiful facade that did wonders for my imagination

There were diamonds on the fourth finger of every other woman

and with good reason

my pedestal had all but vanished

There were these hallways that wrapped themselves around my brain

haunting me with their funereal nature

and their aging wallpaper

There were constellations that danced for me once

and connected all their dots just before I lay my head on the pillow

and a wondrous fog that lifted before I could ever wake to its perilous ways

There was this dream I had when I was little---

where you would take me in your arms and grab hold of my small pajamas

and run me to the mailbox

and we would all be safe from the fire