On Sleeping Alone by Deborah Alma

oh my oh my what big teeth you have you letters of love smelling of sandalwood in your special box of disappointment and raging not sleeping soundly remembering that you should be the start of the happy ever after story not the little girl swallowed whole to be saved by the woodman and his wielded axe

wolves in sheeps clothing
grannies bonnets tied with a ribbon under their sweet little chins

now I sit tight on the lid
Pandora was not heavy in her hips like me not grounded by her own strong living days and nights

I am drawn instead to my own songs to let them sing in the fresh air love letters to myself

wearing the blue slip with the butterflies I take up the pretty teapot for one the scratchy pen the days the life floating lonely happy and sad
the blank sheets.

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