like rock paper scissors
fear stays death
death dissolves magic
magic swallows fear
“there is no such thing”
there is no such person
for whom there is no magic
you need only dance
with their fear
to know
what is magic to them
to know
how love looks like
to their heart
hidden away
for all— we know
that feeling
liberation
returns the child to the child
to that magical kingdom
that bastion of
dazzling glitter
moonlight
for even when home in the world
does not feel like home
that imaginary place
laid over reality
the lens of the rose
not untruth
but that truth with guardian thorns
but the truth of where
insides and outsides meet
the truth of where
what makes meaning in this place
it is enough that there is belief
there is no such thing as magic
for it does not exist
and so it is safe
from all that could touch it
from the facts
of sandcastle kingdoms
from the impatience
of impassioned honkers
from the might
of snowy seasons
for magic is what swallows fear
no wonder
a recipe for tasteless griere
no wonder
the promise of fear
no wonder!
you parked love in the rear
with your exclamation
with your mystery
with your what ifs and laughter
the trees fall like raindancers
the oceans rise like moontides
the screams sound like playgrounds
for magic is what swallows fear,
dear wonder child
so be on the lookout
from your treehouse overseeing
the queendom of your moonlit sea
what is justice to a child
like in jeopardy
when the question comes after
the answer is already a truly truly
