Brought into existence
by falling bridges and snowmelt,
a bent key fit into the stone carving
of a door; brushes in candlelight,
both weapon and tool in this
forgotten epoch. Pearls look like eyes,
unpolished, unstrung, pecked by wraiths
and vultures. Bloody cracks between tiles,
slipped on, before the doorknob finally breaks,
and all restraints are made powerless.
