light

i fell
very slowly
floating into sleep
beneath
the tree
my skirt spreading
through the autumn leaves
the book
balanced on my knee
i fell into dreaming
of stories
and pictures
and words
in black and white
in vintage light
of evil deeds
and kings.
i curled myself
against the roots
and laid my cheek
against the chill breeze
that whispered terrible things
to me
secrets, it said
but i knew they were lies
even those words
i knew i could never
swallow
that i choked on
every time
of men with lips
and wings
who sailed in yellow ships
in the pale moonlight
and all assortments
of things.