Flood waters have receded but left thick mud behind.  It has found all the secret places, covered the concealed things one by one with another layer of deceit to be baked by the sun, to make excavating impossible.

Once I uncovered
secrets hidden with care.  Nine
rabbits ate them all.

The owl who sees in the dark with bright round eyes will lock this in her heart.  When the story ends, everything will be perfect but who gets to write the beginning, the inbetween ?  Blinded by night gleam and star glow I listen to the distant questions, taste vanilla air tinged with citrus, run my tongue over my teeth, think of how heat makes steam, how drops of water move slowly down my sides.