Miriam in skinny grey
with matching topknot
hair-pin spined
disappears like a wraith cat
cutting corners
on the castle’s back stair.
Neither servant nor master
accept the connection
of her lineage. Perhaps
she represents hair-breadth escape. The stirrer
In the Cinderella corner
overturns fires
into the room
laughs when the others
run with buckets.
Smouldering air agrees with her.
