Lost in the Far-Flown Stars
As a mermaid on a pirate's plank slips
off the ship into blue froth, so the child dreams
on a magic pillow to reach the tooth fairy's realms
of frilled radiance with swirling hems,
of quiet-colored fellow fairymen, of hip-
huggers that mix and match, of stand-up violins.
In such dreams, the passion police run out of gas,
and every salesman rings every bell, but
transports to fairyland don't always go well.
The hyperbole of doubt takes a seat in the amphitheater
to observe the mysteries deciphered by dust, and
the hymn-like shimmer cools; all that's splendid
turns into mud and the eventide's moonflower
lands with a thud on the bedroom floor and a mermaid
swims to the top of the door to quote a raven.
-– Star Black
