U n f o l d
Kristiana Reed
See the stars
watch the moon
u n f o l d
tuck
yourself in.
Bedtime wishes
shooting star promises
you are too little
to be bold
but the stars
glisten
as daggers do
and tiny hands find sharpness
they cut
s l i c e
the innocence away
asunder
tuck
yourself in.
Bedtime stories
of dragons, of maidens
you are too girl
to be bold
and so
you burn
watch the moon
and let your wings
u n f o l d
look at you
tattered as ribbons
as ashes
a corpse woman
of the girl they wanted
you to be
too bold now
too old now
too dragon now
sharp teeth and talons,
scaly skin and belly heart warmth
of the Earth’s core and kin,
go on
tuck
yourself in.
