Sunshine –

heatless word fed to

the Changeling to convey

complexity of feeling,

to sidestep

fine hairline breaks,

over Time’s span,

accumulating…

In a moment’s blaze,

the maze of eggshells

so long

& carefully cultivated,

crushed to powder

underfoot…

Each from the other

propelled in orbits

unanticipated beyond

a moniker’s bright veil

toward ashes

of that hopeful word’s

well-intentioned light

now drained of warmth,

darkly eclipsed,

extinguished,

          lost.

— C.Birde, 4/22