How the Fairy Tale Ends

 the engine spoiled against our antipathy. time held its breath.

as we drew our frantic maps.


we held the memories up like a lantern against the accumulating distance.

but the truth would not be deterred.

the miles shed their tears.

our pencils went blunt.


we tugged on the wolf's leash. but the beast had already broken free.


only the bones of its prey remained.

our teeth marks in it still fresh.