Once upon a time,

I was a whirling ball of fire, 

I could outlast the sun,

the moon and the stars. 

I was the centre of the universe,

all rivers flowed from me

the oceans licked my feet 

thunder danced for me. 

I balanced worlds in my palms,

Irreverent, incorrigible, difficult.

many mantles I proudly wore,

And when they said ‘sit down’, I stood up

once upon a time. Once upon a time, 

I booted footballs at the moon. 

Found myself in every shade and colour

But now I am lost. 

Lost in words and phrases 

I have used, and puked. 

I drown. I drown in the river 

of my own making, 

the storms come and bear me away

I cannot hold on, I float, but I cannot drown

for I know you’ll be waiting somewhere

with a flashlight and a raft.