Reflections on an old piece

At some point I must return to complete this meditation I started a few years ago. I kind of like where this was going, but never got around to completing the whole. But then again, I let the writing slide a bit and have now forced myself to review old work as a sort of prep to jumping back into the writing again. Generally, it has been my view to only write when I have something worthwhile saying.

Instructions for Dismantling the Beast,
Part I: Bulimia

With both hands, fingers hooked, reach down the rabbit hole
beyond oesophageal history, slippery and wet
where playground scenes act out their own death:

A cat, a dog, a woman who swallowed a fly
a rusted bike caught on a crook of light on a crooked lawn
blue children choking back laughter.

Heave it up, chain by chain.

Remember clarity? The aura of invulnerability?
Pure night skies limitless as youth, rain bowed promises
lifting Crayola wings, caught and freed on hot summer nights.

Cough up the stones each greying year
until you are weightless, unbounded by the gravity of living
until you are free, as light as whiskers and as empty as youth.

-- from The World According to Goldfish, Vol II (Goldfish Press, Florida, 2009)