She Woke Up Garroted by Darkness

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She woke up 

garroted by darkness 

In the

antiseptic

bright 

white light hell of a 

hospital room

crucified on a feather bed of sorrow

which was once upon a time

a fairy pink crib with billowing sails

That skimmed along the surface of

The wind-blown sea of a nursery

Bound for all the birthright adventures to come

Which are now as lost

As parachuted dreams.

The distant traffic

Conducted by palm trees

Is a requiem.

Everyone else is going somewhere

But not her.

Not her.

She is old now

But young when her eyes are closed.

Which makes her want to go back

and lie limp as Raggedy Annie

beneath the curved rear window

of the Hudson Hornet

And watch infinity swirl by

As daddy drove

Puffing on his cigar like a peace pipe
Her brother slept 

The ponton body rocking him like a cradle

And mommy 

misted with Arpege 

Sang Catch A Falling Star and Put it in Your Pocket

With Perry Como

As the tires thumped like heartbeats

And invisible wings

Flew them home 

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