12/6/21 – ororaphidia

She thought she was lost

But Old Woman came to her in a state somewhere between life and sleep 
Shook her arms, tapped her sternum, tipped her neck this way then that 
Until the vertebrae that held her skull on a podium grated 
Until the casing around her shoulders came loose, cracked and crumbled
Until it all fell away.

She thought she was lost

But instead she was ancient ororaphidia caught, stuck, preserved in amber
Sleeping, safe but still, mighty small winged thing who forgot to fly 
Mighty small winged thing whose wings closed and forgot to open
Mighty small
Paused and suspended while the world around her ended.