Letting Go

An elder farted in Pilates today.
Knees to chest,
It escaped.
No one reacted.
We continued: 
Scooping, holding,
Imagining the string
Lengthening each bone.

There is no coin 
In the King's cake. 
We soaked it and
Made French toast. 
Taking careful bites, 
We hoped for
Molars to metal.
Still
Nothing but softness
Slid down our throats.

We lost a child. 
Running in circles,
Door open, 
Rain crystallizing snow. 
We shouted his name into the darkness.
Checked every corner
Preparing for death.
Then we found him, 
Hiding in the closet,
Light on
His satisfied smile.