Playing for Time

We need some givers to carry the grace

when it exits the stage.

We need a ringmaster who cries as clearly

as a canary’s warning, and a rooted cadre of

seraphs to pad the mist that fills the abyss,

and a spritz or two of a necessary thing

that heals and is not lethal. We need these things

between breaths, after infernos,

and, if we keep them, then someone someday,

emerging restored after a walk

and supper, lives on.  ~JSmith

(Composed on a template which was shared by my niece Krista.)

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Her beautiful version:

Prerequisites

We need some string to tether the moon
when it flees the sky.
We need a still slipknot that holds as loose
as a hand’s whisper, and a shadow shawl of
nightspill to pad the ache that fills the edges,
and a wisp or two of a wishful thing
that cries and is not answered. We need these things
between idlings, after dusk,
and, if we keep them, then someone someday,
wandering wild after a walk
and supper, gathers cold. ~Krista Elliott

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Here is the template.  Please share YOUR take on it here in Comments — I want to read your poetry!

Prerequisites

We need some ___ to ___ the ___

when it ___ the ____.

we need a ____ ____ that ___ as _____

as a _____’s ___, and a ____ ____ of

_____ to pad the ___ that fills the ___,

and a ____ or two of a ____ thing

that ____ and is not ____. We need these things

between ____ , after _____,

and, if we keep them, then someone someday,

_____ _____ after a walk

and supper, _____.