look up
he says, to the girl
on the edge of her seat
yes, you
even while these brown low houses
sink into the dust like coffins
the crumbling fortresses preside
and this mean sharp bush, the skeletal scorpion
hiss “watch your step, look down,
tighten,
shrink,”

don’t.
you can do better
I promise

you can grow into this infinite
sparkling above you like jewels
dance into the dark,
as your own fire burns
this small away

look – it’s expanding with you,
even now!
these swirling wonders
await

yes, you
will have to fight harder
I know
to not fight how they want
grasping at glitter and sand
it will be different for you than me

but your candle burns brighter already
you are so much more than this
already
and my hand is open
take it,
I beg you –

look up!