May #2

Furnace of the Sun

His scream blasts off

from the front garden launch pad,

as sudden as 'Challenger'.

It rises through the atmosphere,

busting its burners against gravity,

to break free of Earth's embrace,

and head for the furnace of the Sun,

where its heat belongs.

The outrage of not being allowed

to run on the road

in brand new winter shoes

that clomp like astronaut boots!

His eyes glitter with tears as bright as stars,

as Granny turns from best friend
to the worst of alien overlords.

— Helen Patrice