To cast this spell
ink the wrinkled skin
of a virgin centenarian
making these markings
a ritualistic sigil
utilising quills
plucked from a specific fallen angel
whose once white feathers
are dyed eggshell blue
in psychedelic tribute
to a sky they once knew
and the time that they once flew.

Steven Holding lives in the United Kingdom. His story SMUDGE appears in the collection TREMBLING WITH FEAR MORE TALES FROM THE TREE VOLUME 5. You can follow his work at stevenholding.co.uk.