One day
(An important day)
(My birthday)
I fell into a deep hole.
I fell
and fell
and fell
all the way down.

I landed in a grand fountain
that shimmered with the light of a million coins
from all around the world:
euros and pesos and pounds
rubles and rupees and rand
faces of conquerors and queens.

The cave glowed.
Light from a million falling stars
danced high above my head.

The cave was full of whispers.
I couldn't tell what they said
But their desire made the hairs on the back of my neck
stand up.

Out of the fountain
Dripping on the smooth stone floor
I was covered in ashy down
falling from high above.
I brushed at my shoulders
and saw a million eyelashes scattering to the ground
a million dandelion seeds dancing around.

The cave's walls were lined with clocks
grandfathers and cuckoos and great train station timepieces
Each one of them striking 11:11
over and over.

A great feast table was next to the fountain
Covered in cakes
Angelfood and baumkuchen and croquembouche
A million candles curled smoke up into the air
just blown out.

Except for one.
One cake
One big, pink, towering cake
had bright shining candles
A million of them
Right at the end of the table.

I walked to take my seat.
My feet crunched over chicken bones.
At the head of the table,
I took a deep breath
and blew.

The candles went out.
The cave cracked open.
The light of the sun rushed in.

And all the long-imprisoned wishes
came true