hey, hi, hello, aloha, hola, yo
how you been? and welcome home
welcome back into the fold
the recent creases in my skin
from grins
from hopeful smiles, from lonely miles
I've walked without my friends
I've started getting old
the recent creaking in my bones
opened up, exposed, and sold
to the highest bidder: anyone willing to pay attention.

it's finally winter
and despite my best intentions
despite my designs
for an inspired invention: a coat
for better protection
from bitter cold
despite how tightly I hold onto the blueprints
rolled and folded up, in a deathgrip
the wind picks up
lifts up
and knocks me down

the blueprints blow around
and shoeprints in the snow, in circles
on the ground
encircle my downtrodden form
i curse the storm out loud
my map for making warmth
now
t  o    r        n
and drowned out by the sky
like white-out, a blizzard
wiped across its contour ----s
erasing mistakes
and victories
replaced with mystery
and I, a wizard without wisdom
or light.

saying, "FIRE!" doesn't make it so
try as i might
to ignite the night and melt the snow
my magick left me
flaccid
limp and empty in the shadows
to whimper helplessly in languages
no one will ever know

the blank pages of truncated tomes
I tear out in my fury
through blurry eyes, the words arise
inspiration, life, and hope
although every burning fire
was extinguished all around me
and every single dream
was extracted from my soul
until the path to fame and fortune
was a fork in the road
behind me
and every point of light was pulled
from the sky I followed home

how could I have known
with a blank page torn out in rage
and sparks of my own art
I'd light my own?

this is origami
watch me
take this piece of paper
and make myself a star