Gretel’s empty pockets

the sun was licking
honey from your hair
and in the deep pool
your stirring fingers
spun a glittering globe

not floating
but settling
and you do it
over and over
stirring,
waiting,

settling,

and I was pocketing
white stones
something to
remember
when all around
you sand glittered.

I wonder if on moon
bathed nights, you’ search
for what was dropped
for a glow path
to bring you back
to a honey-sated sun.

Hansel,
I should have given you
a wing-bone
to poke through the bars
of what cages you,

but now I am convinced,
the witch had eaten
what heart you had.

******original******

the sun was licking
honey from your hair
and in the deep pool
your stirring fingers
lifted a glittering globe
snow-like

this was not floating
but settling
and you do it
over and over
stirring,
waiting,

settling,
and there I was pocketing
white stones to take home,
something to remember
that day when all around
you sand glittered.

I wonder if on some moon
bathed night, you’ll search
for what was dropped
along the way, for a glow
path to bring you back
to a honey-sated sun.

Hansel,
I should have given you a wing
bone to poke through the bars
of what cages you,
but now I am convinced,
the witch had eaten
what heart you had.