and crouched like a coiled beast.
he became useless as a toy.
a possible self, a way to behave.
as it always was—ever bright.
reaching out like glimmering crowns.
Laura Madeline Wiseman's book Velocipede, published by Stephen F. Austin State University Press, is a 2016 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award Finalist. Her book Leaves of Absence: An Illustrated Guide to Common Garden Affection with artist Sally Deskins published by Red Dashboard, is an Honor Book for the 2017 Nebraska Book Award.