I spent my life
Wishing for dreams
On DVD screens
Seeking menus
Finding classroom scenes
Faking destinies
Where characters meet
By mistake

Under evening suns
Turning gold
Holding hands once more
Over rooftops
Hearing soulmates sing
During credits
Or until their hope
Seemed to pass

Which never quite did
Even now
When rewinding time
Poorly wasted
With imagined love
Too idealized
By idols who stay
While we wait

Letting hindsight kill
Little boys
Through grown up eyes
Seeing static
Instead of proof
There was innocence
Before our show
Went away

If hand-drawn wives
Could return
Like beautiful rogues
Building households
Having princess maids
Come and visit
Since ninja queens
Always go

Towards misfit kids
Barely old
Still adults that keep
Perfect visions
From formative lies
So ridiculous
Only sacred loss
Understands.

• J. Pigno