Bubbly

This is a precious pain.

To know that I am not dreaming,
I need a pinch that breaks the thin skin on my arm.
This is that pain.

This is a fragile pain.

To relieve it I must try
To smile and sparkle when I can't,
So I can snuff it out.
But I mustn't.

If I do, its beautiful nacreous shell will burst
And droplets of pain will traverse the air
And be lost to me forever.

This is a fragile precious beautiful pain.