Once, and I Do Mean Once, Upon a Time

The kingdom is aloft,
and rose vines are my latter.
Meet my blood at each handle;
kisses on a petal aren't enough
to hold me steady:

I am plunging.
Ice castles, floating wonder,
pass me by--and by again.
Underneath birch trees,
I am reaching.
And falling.

Bitter calls press my lips,
But I cannot stop.
Stop the thorns on my flesh.
It hurts.
I need it.