Lost boy, found drowned: a ghazal
Peter said it was Michael who was Pan, in his heart–
the standing statue’s model, Barrie’s plan in his heart.
In Kensington Gardens, each Davies boy roamed its paths:
no mothers, no women—pirate blood ran in his heart.
Nico, the youngest, did grow up: Peter flew to death
by rail, George hooked by bullet, blood thick as sand in his heart.
Michael, darling Michael, was the poet, beloved
by Oxford and loved another man, in his heart.
First left-hand star, then morning found them lost in the deep–
hands held them together, Neverland in his heart.
Author: Bryn Gribben
Bryn Gribben has a PhD in Victorian literature and is an instructor of English at Seattle University, teaching literature, empathy, composition, and creative non-fiction, but her SU students call her their steampunk fairy godmother. She has taught at the Richard Hugo House, was the co-editor of fiction for The Laurel Review, and is currently the creative non-fiction managing editor for BigFictionMagazine. Bryn’s latest work can be found in Superstition Review, The Rappahannock Review, 3Elements Review, River River, the HCE Review, and in Suitcase of Chrysanthemums, an anthology from great weather for MEDIA. Her essay “Cabin,” in Tilde, published by 30West Publishing, was nominated for a 2019 Pushcart Prize.
