we used to go back to your place at night
and stand by the window, watching
as the sky turned
blueblackpurple
a real rainbow
the stars exploding
and cows hopping

when the clock struck midnight but we
were simply background characters,
the story did not depend on
us.

back when the train never stopped
and we never stopped

and we would drive fast cars
draw on walls
beat the pavement with our feet as
we ran
royalty of the night
our crowns made of street lamps.

when the midnight wolves howled
and the midnight children howled
we stomped our feet and howled
like the animals we were

and it was beautiful
and we were beautiful

our bodies made of light


but now the magic is over
the illusion that we could ever be
more than we were
is gone

our bodies return
to the way they were
before

cold
hungry
our bones return to dust


sorry darling but
we are no longer
in wonderland