We walk past the shop
With the skull in the window
It should be a bird
She says
With a little tut
And shake of the head
It is not the same place
Where I had the butterfly
Etched onto my skin
Or shiny rings
Pierced through my flesh
The skull is pure
Like Alice
No marks
A creamy white
Someone's life lived
And then preserved
I wonder what we will
Leave behind
Dust and ashes
Fingers and bones
Nothing worthy
Of displaying in a
Shop window
Of course Alice is preserved
Forever
Even if all the books would burn
Her story will be passed on
Manipulated
Owned
By so many people
It may fade
Like the butterfly fades
But that is time
It turns us all into bones
We keep on walking
She holds my hand
Because I am scared
We let daylight fade
Upon the skull
Go home for jam and tea.
