Rune

Early at first light
they left us in the house
boarded up the windows
shut the sunrise out
emptied out our cupboards
no bread, no milk, no jam
left us only spirits
and the head bones of a dog

Early at first light
left to our devices
we broke the chairs for firewood
set spark upon the crisis
gnawed our fingers down to bone
cooked and ate the plates
picked apart the wallpaper
baked a common dialogue

Early at first light
they ran across the field
glancing over shoulders
at the house that Jack had built
wearing out their shoes
clogged with grass and mud
fled the burning frame
arms piled high with food

Early at first light
we walked into the air
thin as Twiggy's skeleton
shirts open, nipples bared
stared out at the mountains
made ourselves a loom
clothed and fed from daisies
drew a second rune

J. x