twelvish
and steps through the villain’s ring of smoke
to emerge into our world
twenty-two-ish
blonde curls, happy smile, eyes untroubled
the hero, not aware of reincarnation
falls in love as she takes her second step
the villain, now an old man, falters
clutches his heart
stares at the young woman
apparently unaware of him
reaches into his pocket
pulls out the gun
but like himself
it is now empty
the hero
catches the young woman’s hand
and asks her to explore the park
“oh yes!” she says
squeezes his hand
“let’s,”she says
“oh let’s!”
the villain
staggers to a bench
sits
stares at his hands
his gun
puts it in his mouth
and blows his brains away
the young woman does not notice
nor the hero
they skip into the park
somewhere nearby
a child is born
in our world, I watch the credits roll
when they finish, I walk out with my wife
a crowd shouts in the lobby
ordering and collecting their popcorn
their candies and sodas
I walk through amazed
they show no reverence
something miraculous has just happened
were they not there?
are they not preparing for another?
I do not often go to movies
unwilling, I think, to be swallowed by the miracle
unwilling, I think, to walk out stunned
and drive back to my desk
where I hear whispers from ghosts
and see the dragon darkly through a glass
without the magic of the wings unfurling
the roaring swell of the music
as the ocean crashes over the cave mouth
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