she said the dream was never

she said the dream is never

it is rather

always other than what it is

you won’t listen

because the clouds muffle the noise

even as they embolden the rhythm

tell it to me straight

or else we’ll go off the tracks

or were there ever tracks

he asked as he fell

swings are made for having fun

but they don’t spin in circles

because of the leashes

though without

there is the landscape of savage play

where one steps and never walks

civilization is having the balance of things

so you don’t have to pay attention

to see if you’re going to fall

so what she said

of the fallen

they make for climbers

so sick filled our jaw

as we stared at the empty platter

the meaning came before and after

you’re only as small as your eyes will close