Stage 3

Stage 3

Of pine and fir I was mauled
ripped in terror from my stand
falling
falling
barely landing from whence I was dragged
roughly to the screeching and ripping
my skin flayed back
lathed, sliced, and stretched
sinew bound against sinew
barely breathing

barely alive

transported here in chaos
braced, skewered, and patched hewn
a compliant plane
waiting

waiting

The young ones came first
halting
hesitant
touching lightly and fearful of the leviathan beneath
with guarded, shallow steps as children do
tolerated
while they, retreating to familiar arms, squeal
did you see?
Did You See Me!

Others come untethered
older now
in twos and threes
buoyed by and through unison floating
threaded and wheeling
laughing
some leaping yes falling
skinning egos and knees

Out beyond the edge of my skin
she alone a warning whispers

“I am here”

Others quickly are upon me
line on line with
tattooed steps
marching corner to corner
side to side
without nuance
without …

“I am here”,
her voice cajoles
and abruptly scampers cross my frame
catlike
taunting
twisting
leaping
ever just beyond my grasp
tormenting
and skittering away innocent
hidden amidst the rainfall
of awkward batters.

Some ancient thing within me wakes
with arched frame taut
and quivering

I wait

In heavies now my spine is traced
subtle hammers
affix my tone
my resonance rendered
music
dancer
thunder
alive in frenzy above me
we two together
fused
kinetic rapture

rippling

alive!

Sudden silence suffocating
the music ends

With drunken steps she staggers off
demon child with eyes erupt
in tears, gasping
“I must go”
amid steps diminishing into a final sound
the echoed recoil of a distant door
closing