Stirring Sleeping Beauty
(An Incantation)
~ by Lisa Reilich, vs. 2/22/2023
You predicted,
preplanned,
premeditated
death ‘til the end.
Like a dance or a game
courting ghosts
wrapped in flame
‘til you burned.
Here we stand, holding air
like your breath, pray to dusk
that it counts
like your heartbeat
once stopped.
Your heartbeat
now stopped.
You flirted with flames
one moment too long.
And not even God
starts your heart
once breath stops.
Stop.
Don’t stop.
Beat.
Breathe.
Believe.
Live — Don’t stop.
Babes crawl to walk,
dance tightropes with ghosts.
(Pray gently)
Crawl gently, walk gently,
dance gently my Loves,
lest you fall.
Don’t Fall.
Live.
Don’t. Stop.
Don’t Sleep.
Don’t Die.
Wake Up…
***
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