Fragile
Etched out of glass
A crooked stitch in time
One two
My memory slips
One two buckle my shoe
As I trip
Three four
I fall on the floor
The glass shatters again
No more dancing
Smiling ballerina
Child
Five six
He beats me down
Slits my throat
My wrists
My ankles
My knees
Blood filling me in
Filling me out
Covering me completely
No scream
Can slip through
My gritted teeth
Breathing comes in gasps
Pulling me here
Pulling me there
Fast
Quicker
Quickly
Lightning zips
Flashing here
There
Blue
Gold
And green
No scream
No not one
What is five six
Pick up sticks?
Seven eight
Now it's too late
Only my eyes
Betray me
Tears from the sun
Trickle down furiously
As the moon rises
Nine ten
Never sleep again
Tabitha Ethington
10/1/03
