Inspired by Ascent of the Blessed by Hieronymus Bosch (with hints of other Visions of the Hereafter polyptychs: Terrestrial Paradise, Fall of the ****** into Hell and Hell)

I have heaven on a plate,
a vertical axis,
with a horizontal frame of reference.

These panels depict the playbook;
my mind elicits my play in any given moment.

We zoetrope the days away,
   "we" being the many parts of self,
   "days" being ill-defined measures of a life,
                  spin upon spin.

I guess at where I'll stop - or disregard it,
as my chin tilts back and legs give way,
I'm forever caught,
     snagged upon another dreamer.

Should my gaze match,
     I'm anchored,
          washed clean of any remnants.

Trusting fanciful perfection, with eyes trained,
      it is their want that binds me.

Let me be saved before the picture changes;
drag me just beyond the weight of yesterday.

       Whisper stillness in my ear,
   rest me for whatever a while is,
               before the next time.


© 𝓛𝓮𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓗 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓