Dance of the Unforgotten (a fully illustrated literary fable for adults)
Currently on submissionCurrently on submission
FROM THE ROOFTOP of the clocktower,
Lani could see the dead, floating above the village.
The night air soothed her mind,
and the slate shingles pressed cool against her bare feet.
Lani could see the dead, floating above the village.
The night air soothed her mind,
and the slate shingles pressed cool against her bare feet.
The small world below her was a regret:
silent buildings, yawning thin grey puffs.
An hour before, she had been in her room—
making last preparations for the journey;
the ropes, the fuel, the balloon.
silent buildings, yawning thin grey puffs.
An hour before, she had been in her room—
making last preparations for the journey;
the ropes, the fuel, the balloon.
She stepped to the edge.
The bell tolled. The rain came. The starlings took flight—
circling once about her, then vanishing into the night.
The bell tolled. The rain came. The starlings took flight—
circling once about her, then vanishing into the night.
Her father, sitting under a streetlamp,
full of evening wine, was the only soul to see
Lani step off the peak.
full of evening wine, was the only soul to see
Lani step off the peak.
She fell slowly,
gently swaying above him.
Turning the dial to bring the burner to life,
a pale flame rose,
warming the air in the balloon tethered to her harness.
gently swaying above him.
Turning the dial to bring the burner to life,
a pale flame rose,
warming the air in the balloon tethered to her harness.
As she rose, she called back,
“I’m off to find Mama—
and I pray that I’ll never return.”
“I’m off to find Mama—
and I pray that I’ll never return.”
(Full version available upon request)