a child tells

i see a ball
invisible threads, it was made of
light as gossamer connecting us
playmates of different worlds
unknown, unseen

i see three birds
trying the shoe
who owns it, asked the wolf
two were shot, one flew
songs and tears tied to its feet

i see a veil
by its slitting
laugh, commanded the king clothed in gold but none
huddled masses wept
prayers sealed their lips

i see a red cloak
deep red, fell on the ground
slowly, turning into ants, disrupted
displaced, dispersing
not so far away, a mound was forming

i see an old tree
gnarled, with long braid of hair
of ashen faces and fainting voices
in garbled words, this land we own
before its dying breath, whispering

tell, my child